P-List, Inc.

[jporter]

The current list crisis could be resolved by the application of a little
free market ingenuity. When has freedom ever been free, anyway?

For starters: a posting fee. It could be minor, $.25 for the first post of
the day, $.50 for the second, the variations are endless. If traffic slows,
fees could be slashed, if there is an inflation of noise, some list version
of Greenspan might judiciously raise them for a brief period- just a few
preliminary ideas here of how control might be gently instituted using
market based strategies. All types of creative and innovative directions
could be explored. Effort volunteered for various list maintenance
activities could be repayed with "free post vouchers", for example, you get
the idea.

Depending on revenues, without being too grandiose, the list could sponsor
activities. 20 posts @ $.50 per post would be $10 per day. That adds up.
There might be prizes, or even in the true spirit of free market fun:
punishment- in the form of "flame assessments", etc., things to really get
people's juices flowing. It might be stimulating.

I'm not really thinking in terms of a membership fee, ala The Well. I think
a usage fee is the best idea.

Give it some thought. Regardless of how you feel about usage fees, the idea
of incorporation can be considered independently.

jody