[Foundation-l] Moderate this list

Thu Sep 10 17:38:58 UTC 2009

> Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:46:36 -0400
> From: Anthony <wikimail at inbox.org>
> Subject: Re: [Foundation-l] moderate this list
>   
> There needs to be place for dozens of back-and-forth-over-minor-details
> discussion.  Long detailed emails have their place, but after they are
> posted there needs to be room for a question and answer session.  Limiting
> these Q&A sessions so that each person can merely make a single comment and
> then receive a single response severely limits the ability of people to
> engage in useful discussion, and forcing people to have any back and forth
> discussions off-list severely limits the usefulness of the list for
> brainstorming and for refining ideas.
>
> If you want a separate list for long, well-thought-out emails, I'm fine with
> that.  But we need a place for brainstorming and refining ideas. We need a
> place for back-and-forth discussion.
>
> Am I in the minority in believing that?
>
>   
This issue of moderation comes up with great regularity, though not 
always about the same individuals.  Anthony and Thomas have 
well-established credentials as pains in the ass ... so too has a shot 
of penicillin.  I have frequently disagreed  with them, but even when my 
personal opinion has been that they have reached their most idiotic I 
have never sought to throttle them.  I have a much easier option: the 
delete key on my keyboard.

To those who consider them trolls: Why are you feeding them with 
requests for moderation?  Has that oft repeated simple advice never had 
any effect upon you?  If you view them as part of the problem, must you 
too become a part of the problem by promoting an equally inane series of 
messages about moderation?

The protection of free speech does not begin with laws on the matter, 
but with our own personal responses to what we regard as objectionable.

Ec