on 9/9/02 9:39 AM, Joseph Barisonzi at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

> Jim,
> 
> And how is it substantively distinct from the list we are currently
> participating in? I mean other then the obvious, that Jim is the
> moderator accountable to no one rather than David who is accountable to
> an elected board of directors?

Joe and members - 

Jim can illuminate the differences, but I welcome another discussion list!

Many list members have principled disagreements with my decisions - what
constitutes inflamed rhetoric, for example, or what is not
Minneapolis-specific.

The problem managing the Minneapolis-Issues list is one of success: it is
the big online discussion game in town, so when people get tossed off or
disagree with the charter, they feel as though they are cast out into the
wilderness. (I am sensitive to this, by the way, which is one reason people
aren't expelled as quickly as some would like.)

Personally, I believe a no-holds-barred, virtually ruleless list will
quickly prove too negative and unfocused to have much influence. I'll admit
a major reason behind creating rules and enforcing them is to keep many
segments of the community at our virtual table: that's a big reason we
discourage personal attacks - because it drives many members away.

But the beauty of Jim's list is that we won't have to rely on beliefs or
guesses - people can respond to the marketplace of ideas.

Mpls-Issues was never intended to be the only game in town - it was created
because there were no games at the time.

I applaud Jim for trying to create another forum. I think it's long overdue.

David Brauer
King Field
List manager, Minneapolis-Issues

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