Hi folks. I generally frown on the list discussing the list, but there are
important issues to discuss here so I just want to clarify from the list
manager's point of view and hopefully we can move on.
Of course, Michael Atherton and Eva Young are right; neighborhood-level
issues are perfectly appropriate to discuss here. No one is saying those
problems should be censored off the list.
However, with the thread in question, the "debate" has long since moved from
the fundamental issue to a personal back-and-forth over people's biases,
personalities, and motivations. As I have said many times before, if you
find yourself addressing someone by name in a post, it should probably go to
them and not the list. This is why we have a rule preventing "one-on-one" or
"personal" disputes - to prevent an issue discussion from mirroring a
personal feud. I plan to enforce the decorum rules more stringently. Speak
to the issue, not the person.
Like Michael, I have long been an advocate of the "if you don't like it,
delete it" school. However, I see things you don't (in feedback from members
who have unsubscribed; I request that people give me a reason they are
leaving when they do, and many oblige). The number one complaint is that
disputes are becoming too personal, too angry, and not keeping their eye on
the substance that has given us a purpose.
But beyond that - and thanks largely to the election -- we have become a
VERY high traffic list in recent months. People are simply getting
overwhelmed with posts, even in the digest version. They write me and it's
obvious they are hanging on because of what Minneapolis Issues has been and
can be, but the sheer weight of things is dragging them down. We are
deleting valuable members now, not just posts.
That traffic problem, plus the discouraging bile, has given me ample reason
to enforce the decorum rules. Again, I am NOT trying to censor a debate on
the fundamental issues. By insisting on decorum (not agreement, by the way),
we will keep more people here and learn more about our city.
I know I have done my part to clog your inboxes in recent days. That's
because I was too lax on certain enforcement. Please be patient as I try to
fix that.
Now let's get back to the Issues part of Minneapolis-Issues.
David Brauer
List manager
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
Michael Atherton
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 4:01 PM
To: Annie Young; Mpls List
Subject: Re: [Mpls] STOP! In the name of love!
Annie Young wrote:
> Right on! Can you imagine if all 81 neighborhoods (67 MCDA approved) of
> this city started hanging out their "dirty" laundry on this list? Each
> neighborhood has it's own cast of characters and two sides of every
> project. And, as an example, there is never a park board project that
> doesn't start out with the neighbors closest to the park or project being
> upset about something within the proposed changes. It takes time,
> discussion and dialogue and 99% of the time solutions and positive resolve
> comes out in the end. But heaven help us if we discuss the pro's and con's
> of every single project and park in the city to the bitter end of the
> debate. I support the list addressing and studying more on broad city
> issues and how to change policy and direction of the city and stuff like
> that. I have enough neighborhood headaches of my own.
> Thanks to whomever said something first.
Don't STOP! In the name of reality!
When there are problems with a system they will not be solved by
shoving the "dirty" laundry under the bed. Each neighborhood has it's
own cast of characters and two sides of every story, but that doesn't
keep one side from being right and the other wrong. There are major
problems with the neighborhood structure and the NRP, trivializing the issue
will not make it better.
If you personally don't like reading about issues that you find too
personalized
then ignore the thread, but please don't suggest that we censor ourselves
so that you won't have to acknowledge the existence of problems, no matter
how small they are.
Mike Atherton
Prospect Park (MCDA Unapproved Neighborhood)
Ward 2
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_______________________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy
Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more:
http://e-democracy.org/mpls
