To: Janet and  Barbara

cc: the list

Janet wrote, on behalf of herself and Barbara

> if any member of this list
> attacks, harasses or 'flames' another member of this list
> please be assured that the attacker will be summarily booted off the list
> and the internet service provider serving the offending list member
> will be informed of their offensive behaviour

Whilst I'm agree with what you are saying in principle, I am extremely
concerned at how this will work in practice.  As written you appear to be
saying that anyone deemed to be guilty of the offences listed above will be
removed from the list, at your sole discretion and no questions asked, on
their first offence.

If this is the case could you please define just what constitutes an attack
in your eyes.  Judging by the views you expressed during the recent
exchange, BarbM, Brian Collins and myself (for supporting BarbM) would now
be ex members of this list.  As I saw BarbM's original post as very
carefully written to avoid comment on individual personalities and you,
Janet, advised her that in your view it did constitute a personal attack, it
is clear to me that I am not going to survive long in this brave new world
your announcement ushers in. Indeed I may well have already overstepped the
mark.  More to the point if people stop taking dissenting views because of
fear of being booted then we will be unable to discuss much of anything and
there won't be much point in being here anyway.

Therefore -

I hereby formally request that Janet and Barbara reconsider their position
in the light of the following comments:

There is a world of difference between saying - "Dear so-'n-so please cut
back on your postings about bats (cats, dogs, guinea pigs) because they are
driving me batty" - and "Dear so-'n-so I think you are an idiot for posting
so many messages about bats (etc) so stop doing it."  The first is a simple,
and in my view legitimate request.  The second is definitely attacking and
the attacker should be warned that they are jeopardising their membership of
the list if they persist.  People who make a habit of such postings should
then be booted.   Summary booting off at the time of a first offence should
surely be reserved for attacks of a serious nature."

Janet - you and I enjoyed some quite heated exchanges of view when we first
met on this list. We expressed some strongly worded views on each others
arguments and occasionally both of us (wrongly) strayed across the mark into
personal comment  The contributions we have subsequently made to this list
were shaped in part by those exchanges, yet if Barbara had applied the
criteria you are now apparently applying neither of us would be here today.

Janet - I know you love this list - but I truly believe that if you don't
build some flexibility into your current stand you will change it beyond
recognition.  I can't believe that is your intent.

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Dennis Greene 49/dx 37/ onset 32
There's nothing wrong with me that a cure for PD won't fix!
[log in to unmask]
http://members.networx.net.au/~dennisg/
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