Eugene is carping about a range of issues in his recent post. This is what happens with a handful of posters, who believe that we can accomodate all their conflicting visions on how Goanet can and should best be run.
Eugene raises some good issues, mixes these with nonsense, and that makes it extremely tough to read, respond to and act on even when one is also caught up in the job of trying to build what arguably is Goa's best and most-influential mailing-list. (Which, one might add, is having its credibility -- wittingly or otherwise -- damaged by a handful who think they know better but can't build any suitable models themselves). Firstly, if we had more "uniformity" on Goanet, I doubt any of Eugene's missives after the Canada meet would have gone through! I believe that more than mere uniformity (or technical accuracy in moderation) we need a sense of fair-play, openness to varied points of view, and a scope for anyone to express themselves (as long as there's no slander or a breach of defamation laws or simply insulting posts targetting each other... The Goanet rules are fairly elaborate on what will or will not be allowed, and Goanet is committed to allowing all points of view through, whether or not we agree with them.) To make all kinds of bizarre suggestions -- including one that Herman 'steps aside' -- is wholly uncalled for. Everyone contributes to this project in the way they can, and it's unfair to suggest that someone has no role to play because they can't do hands-on moderation on a daily basis! As someone who has been involved with Goanet for 13 out of its 14 years, I know what Herman's contribution has been, visible or otherwise. As someone running other cyber-volunteer projects (BytesForAll, GoaJourno, IndiaEJ, CamerasForACause) I also know that one cannot demand that volunteers do certain tasks. Volunteers volunteer, in keeping with their time available, abilities and inclinations. I wish half of these guys making all these suggestions had spent one-tenth of their time in volunteer work (in Goanet or whereever). Goa and the diaspora would have been a completely different place. Talk is cheap! Eugene raises the issue of my role as moderator on Goajourno. That's fine, even though it's off-topic here. It also indicative of the manner in which a debate is used to rake up all kinds of personal axes and perceived axes. At another level, it's good he raises the issue, because it reflects on my wider attitude towards lists (contrary to the myths being promoted by Dr Cornel these days, based on Cecil's "humour writing"). On Goajourno, every post which is not off-topic and non-defamatory is carried. As a principle, I will not encourage personal criticism of a nasty kind (including some of the kind that appears on PenPricks.blogspot.com). The one Eugene claims was not carried (about Flaviano Dias and Catholic-sounding names) was actually approved speedily, and is in the archives here [http://groups.google.com/group/goajourno/browse_thread/thread/6f8a502008c74999] Perhaps Eugene doesn't have time to read what he posts! Spam and off-topic posts I believe ought to be rejected. Could Eugene give some specific examples about which posts of his were not carried, to check out whether this was a result of some kind of 'censorship' or just the need to keep a list on-track along the lines it was set up for? I'm open to a discussion on this on Goajourno or Goanet (though it might be a bore for many readers here). As an aside, when I mentioned that the posts did not show up for moderation, did you bother to re-post them? One would have presumed that copies were available in your sent-folder? Okay guys, enough carping. Enough time wasted about advising others on how to run affairs. Do something yourself, and show what you're capable of. I think journos like Eugene should spend more time writing something of value to the community, instead of going into infighting mode. We've seen enough of that these days. (And sorry for telling others how to lead their lives... maybe the trend is just catching on, as we sink deeper into I-know-best-how-you-should-be-doing-your-taskism ...) FN > Some of my posts on GoaJourno, which Fred moderates, has never > appeared and I have asked him why. Once or twice he said he did > not get them. Rest of the time I have not bothered to ask him. One > recent post was on Miguel's remark that Flaviano Dias, the > journalist of the Goa's freedom struggle VCD, had a > "Catholic-sounding" name. I questioned what is wrong with > having such a name though Flaviano is a Communist, and that > should Flaviano change his birth name to a name that clearly > identifies as a Communist. I also said that Pio da Gama Pinto, > the Kenyan martyr, was a Communist and similarly some > well-known names in Goa in the past. -- FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org M: +91-9822122436 P: +91-832-2409490
