On Sat, Dec 25, 2004 at 12:11:04PM +0100, Martin Schulze wrote: > Colin Watson wrote: > > I'd rather see more lists moderated, and the moderators given > > power to say "OK, this thread has gone off-topic and stopped being > > productive, please end it". That would allow discretionary salvaging > > of totally
the "please end it" *request* is crucial to making list moderation work without stifliing free speech. > Anybody can say so, but nobody can really stop a thread. That would > also mean that list contributors would be encumbered in their free > speech. voluntary obedience to moderator suggestions can work. when it works, it is because the moderator (not usually self-appointed, unless they were the person who created the list or are pretty much universally respected or considered authoritative) has a light-hand, is not prone to jumping in too early, and is believed by all sides to be impartial (i.e. not closing down a discussion just because the side s/he favours is losing). with these conditions, most participants in a thread will take the hint from the moderator and shut up. sometimes, a few won't - but the rest ignore them and the thread just peters out anyway. it gives people an out, so they don't "have to" respond to the last incredibly stupid or annoying or insulting etc thing that was said, they don't have to defend their honour, their silence is not assent, they are choosing to shut up because the moderator asked them to and for no other reason. as it stands, though, none of the debian lists that i know of has an official moderator, although some have a person or people who nearly everyone will choose to follow their lead - that generally works better than someone appointed from above, although it works eevn better if their suggestions have some official standing as well. if not enough people like or respect the moderator, then it won't and can't work. at best, they will be ignored. at worst, the list dies. craig -- craig sanders <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> (part time cyborg)
