Michael Harney wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John D. Giorgis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2001 12:37 PM
> Subject: Re: The "problem" with the list.
>
> > >Would you care to amend this bill or pose an alternative one.
> >
> > Absolutely not.
> >
> > The essence of discussion is disagreement. Without disagreement, there
> is
> > almost no discussion. If you cannot handle people disagreeing with your
> > opinions, then you should not engage in discussion. If you are going to
> > take vigorous disagreement with your political opinions personally, then
> > you should not engage in discussion. Indeed, if you cannot handle the
> > existence of opinions that are the polar opposite of your own, then you
> > should strongly consider leaving the body politic, the essence of
> > democratic human civilization.
> >
> > You would seem to think, Michael, the people with vigorous politicial
> > disagreements cannot be friends. You seem resigned to that fact that
> > vgorous political disagreement will eventual disolve friendship.
> >
> > I categorically reject that viewpoint in every possible way.
> >
>
> I do as well, as I never said any of that. I am not against debate, and I
> am not against rational discussion (I have willingly participated in my fair
> share of those political debates), I simply said that I think we should
> refrain from discussing politics because it makes no progress, and damages
> the quality of discussion on the list, driving people away from the list.
People choose to leave or stay as they like; blaming the discussion of
politics as the cause is a bit shortsighted, as that's not what is truly
"causing" people to leave. People choose to get involved or not in
discussion as they see fit; people also make choices to read or not
read any post, and whether or not to stay subscribed. If someone
honestly can not stand to be in a public discussion with someone who
disagrees with them and defends the opposing viewpoint vigorously, then
banning politics as a topic is most certainly not going to "fix" the
percieved problem. Next we'll be unable to talk about the environment,
or the colonization of Mars, or new borns, or how to fix so-and-so's
computer, all because someone takes issue with it.
Threatening to leave, or for that matter, actually leaving, in such a
public manner as some have done is the mailing list equivilent to
blowing up the city with everyone inside, just so the enemy can not
capture it. It serve no point except to hurl one final blow that is
pretty clearly outside the bounds of the original discussion and flee
all repercussions or responsibility for those actions, and is most
certainly /not/ in line with the IAAMOAC mantra.
> My point is that the discussion of politics at this point in time is *not*
> making the list better, it is only serving to further divide it.
..and who decides when the time is right again? Will it be you? Or
Kristin? Or John? ..and what if someone DOES decide the time is right
again, but others don't?
Brin-L has been a wonderful community for years, far outliving any other
mailing list I've participated on, all without the false premise of an
impartial moderator. I don't see a need for one now, nor do I ever see
the need for one arising.
> The list, however, has
> reduced being mostly politics, so if common ground is not disscussed more,
> then politics, being the majority, will have the strongest effects of who is
> "friend" and who is "enemy".
Who's fault is that?
If you dislike the content, you have 2 choices - unsubscribe, or post
something of your own. I'm sorry, but the list isn't here to entertain
you.
> Well, since you have such high respect for democracy, I hope you will
> recognize and respect of the final decission made by the list. There is no
> law enforcement system here, so we cannot force you to agree with the final
> decission (the listowners could probably enforce the decission, but I don't
> think that they will), but I hope your respect for the system which made the
> decission will influence you to respect the decision.
Have you spoken to the listowners about this?
Will YOU respect the decision the list makes, as well?
-j-
