With the intensifying election season, and several new members joining in recent weeks, we've had an upsurge in posts contain personal or one-on-one debates. This is threatening the list's continuance The purpose of the list is to share information about the city of Minneapolis, not play out endless, personal food fights. That's why we have two rules that discourage such behavior (these can be found at http://www.e-democracy.org/mpls): 4. No insults, threats, and inflamed speech for the sake of personal argument are allowed. 5. One-on-one arguments, disagreements, and disputes of a personal nature must be taken off list. One of the trickiest parts of my job as list manager is interpreting when something has become one-on-one, or personal. In the past, I have erred toward not warning people if they are going after someone for conduct that has taken place in the public sphere. However, the increasing venom and narrowing scope have caused me to reassess. As list manager, I have discretion to interpret the rules. I will be enforcing these rules much more closely, and want to give everyone my guidelines upfront. 1. If you find yourself addressing a reply to a person - and not the list - you should send that message to the person, not the list. 2. Don't question people's motives unless you can provide solid evidence. This is a simple "attack the messenger" standard. We exist to argue the substance of city and civic policies. Blaming the messenger only distracts from those substantive arguments. STICK TO THE ISSUES. 3. If you do feel a personal dispute has broader relevance, please focus on that relevance, not the dispute. 4. NEVER question someone's participation in the forum. Simply put, it's not your call. We are a civic commons that welcomes all. People are only thrown off because the violate the rules. Everyone has the right to comment on any topic here. 5. This is not an attempt to "censor" discussion of the issues. It is merely to get to those issues minus the personal vitrol that can overwhelm substance. 6. Count to ten before you call someone something you wouldn't want to be called. I view the insult and inflamed speech clauses liberally. Minneapolis-Issues has survived for over two years because we are more respectful than most political Internet forums. My #1 job is to keep it that way and I will even at the price of warnings or expulsions. I'm working for the 400-plus valuable members who show respect, share their insights, and make this place what it is. KEEP YOUR PERSONAL BATTLES TO YOURSELVES! David Brauer List manager _______________________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
