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It is worth bearing in mind that a discussion forum is not a democracy. However, discussion fora exist within a democracy. A discussion forum is a mailing list owned and maintained by a human being. If you have never managed a discussion forum, you will not appreciate that they demand a lot of time and work. And in most cases, it is a labour of love. JC is not, to my knowledge, paid or in any way financially compensated for his time and efforts to maintain this forum. Almost every discussion forum focuses on specific topic and provides a means for people with an interest in that topic to communicate. When the discussion gets too far away from the topic, a good forum owner will bring discussion back again - just as a history professor will bring a class discussion - which has veered into a different topic - back to the topic at hand. That is because if the moderator does not keep the focus, the list will almost inevitably fall apart. Thus, whether you agree or not, JC has every right to bring discussion back to the topic at hand. Just as you have every right to leave the forum, join a forum focusing on the issues that interest or start your own forum and moderate it as you please. As I said, fora exist in a democracy that allows you that freedom. JC has not banned all political discussion. He has just asked us to avoid getting too far from the issue of Parkinson's. One would assume keeping members informed of issues regarding stem cell research and how politicians stand on the issue would be relevant. Arguing about creationism versus evolution, pointing out that a president of a country is an idiot or arguing over abortion legislation from a religious perspective is, you must admit, getting very far from the issue of Parkinson's. Bear in mind that a decade ago, you could not have had a forum like this with so many people from so many places being able to communicate with each other. Many of you likely would have had far fewer fellow Parkinson's sufferers to share thoughts with. So, accept that JC has made the effort to set up and maintain this forum, that he has not deleted your messages complaining about his request and that this forum provides wonderful opportunities to communicate with others sharing your condition. And if you can't do that, find or start another forum that suits your specific needs. Jeffrey Gentry, Greyling wrote: > "As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression. In both > instances, there's a twilight where everything remains seemingly > unchanged, and it is in such twilight that we must be aware of change in > the air, however slight, lest we become unwitting victims of the > darkness." > > -- William O. Douglas, longest serving Justice (36 years) U. S. Supreme > Court. > > It seems night is falling, even here on the Parkinson's list. I'm very > sad to see partisan censorship curtailing honest, productive discussion > about how to further pertinent -- and possibly lifesaving -- legislation > and funding. I'd urge everyone to think carefully before jumping on the > censorship bandwagon. A few intolerant people should never be allowed to > dictate to the many. > > ~ Greyling > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of marco de michiel > Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 7:16 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Acceptable Topics for the Parkinsn List > > Rick, > > I completely agree with you but I think we have to accept the contents > of > the 'charter' exist and that if one 'steps out of line', one is likely > to be > removed. I feel my emails regarding a database are the target of JC's > email; > the fact he hasn't replied to my one seeking clarification would suggest > this is so. We can discuss the dbase outside of this group; my address > is > [log in to unmask] - any one else that's interested can also > email > me. > > I have no intention to just sit and wait for the end; God gave me a > brain > and I intend to use it. The Doctor who replied to JC's email with the > words, > 'that's the boy John', has waved another red rag.... > > Hopefully I'll hear from you. > Marco > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn