Let me clarify some of my points.
1) Lists need to have clear established criteria, and need to be
proactive and list acceptable conduct.
2) Lists need to have moderation and enforcement. The best is when
one or more moderators can be proactive and conduct their business
privately.
3) No one ever has the excuse to demean. And that is an issue of
intent rather than style.
4) However many communication faux pas are style and ability or savvy.
In the extraordinary case of Gabe:
1) In the life of the list the moderator can confirm how many others
have created this level of concern. I suspect his is the most
egregious case. Gabe needs to be made well aware of that.
2) There are claims (and I would expect him to consistently behave
the same) that this conduct has been witnessed elsewhere to similar
effect. Gabe needs to be made well aware of that.
My suggestion:
Gabe's conduct is such that he has to be sponsored and facilitated on
this list. And he has to embrace that guidance. I would assign
someone to him. I would have Gabe actually forward his post to that
sponsor and let the sponsor sanitize the communication if necessary.
This needs to continue until the moderator and sponsor determine that
Gabe can post independently. This will slow his communication, but
that is a penalty he needs to accept. And learning how to
appropriately post can provide the reward of being allowed to
independently post. I would not want others to have to publicly or
privately waste time on calling attention to this issue. I don't want
to see the inner acting's on this issue public amongst what is the
true topic of the list. I don't want to see Gabe apologizing and then
being a boor and repeating the same transgression.
This gives Gabe the opportunity to learn how to be a positive
participant, along with protecting others from vitriol, and allowing
this list to be inclusive for all.
Woody
