Everyone, I usually do this sort of thing more privately, but this time I'm broadcasting it so people will better understand what I'm trying to do and why. This particular situation has gone on for months without an adequate response on my part. It has created a harsh "edge" to the list that has cost us members. I'm sorry to *add* to the "bickering."
I will be posting both this and one follow-up message which together constitute all of my remarks. Stuart, You wrote: > In the interests of advancing our understanding of colloidal > silver, let us please stop being petty and over-sensitive, but please > let us also be open to criticism and free to express ourselves. You charge in, stepping on toes and shouting insults, and now ask the *rest* of us not to be "petty and over-sensitive!" There is an important distinction between criticism and insult, Stuart. Freedom to express yourself does not absolve you of the obligation to be courteous and civil. > My earlier allegedly offensive remarks were reasonably, albeit > briefly motivated. "Offensive" is a function of the response, not your intent. In this medium we cannot see anything besides your words. You may not intend to be insulting and obnoxious, but your message is coming across exactly that way. > My challenge to Frank to explain his offensive remarks remains open, > in spite of other's attempts to police freedom of expression. His "offensive" remarks can be explained by his being as frustrated with you as I am, and his not expecting a response from me -- which is reasonable given my past handling of the matter. > If this list will not allow open debate, I am challenging Frank go to > my website debating forum "THE FREE RADICAL: The Editor Speaks Out > .... and Visitors Back-Chat" and explain himself there without fear > of censorship at http://pluto.beseen.com/boardroom/k/53454/ "This list" is me, Stuart. You are a guest here, and expected to treat *every* other member of the group with the utmost respect and civility, even when they hold beliefs and opinions that you do not agree with. It is my obligation to protect each member from personal attacks and to eject disruptive persons if they will not accept correction. "Open debate" in the presence of *this* moderator implies civil and respectful presentation of ideas, *NOT* personal attacks. You are both free to express your selves "without fear of censorship" here, provided you maintain a courteous demeanor. Your entire attitude boils down to "Frank refuses to agree with me, so I'm going to taunt him many times and call him foolish." Not acceptable. This is not a Monty Python flick. > If Frank does take up the challenge, would he please be so kind to > inform the list. If he does not do so, I will allow his declining to > do so to speak for itself. Frank would be stupid to participate in a forum where he is sure to be subjected to further insult and harassment. His choosing not to do so will speak only to his opinion of your likely performance as host. Roger wrote: > Personalizing a scientific debate is not helpful since it tempts > each side away from a logical exchange of IDEAS to ego driven "one > upsmanship". Scientific debate takes a great deal of self restraint > which, for the vast majority of us, is very short supply. Indeed. Stuart, your continued participation in this forum depends on your accepting and abiding by the rules and my, yes, wholly arbitrary judgement. If you are incapable of restraining your personal feelings toward others and expressing yourself in a civil fashion, I *WILL* eject you. Frank has at times offended others on the list by behaving as if his experimental work and interpretation of the results was the be all and end all of the search for truth. You and others have *certainly* disabused the rest of us of that notion, however unswayed Frank's opinion on the matter may be. It is sad, however, that you are jeopardizing your own argument by the extraneous elements of your presentation. I trust that in future discussions your insights will be preserved and further developed in your absence by others on the list who agree with you *and* are capable of decently civil behavior. The choice is yours. Mike Devour silver-list owner [Mike Devour, Citizen, Patriot, Libertarian] [[email protected] ] [Speaking only for myself... ] -- The silver-list is a moderated forum for discussion of colloidal silver. To join or quit silver-list or silver-digest send an e-mail message to: [email protected] -or- [email protected] with the word subscribe or unsubscribe in the SUBJECT line. To post, address your message to: [email protected] Silver-list archive: http://escribe.com/health/thesilverlist/index.html List maintainer: Mike Devour <[email protected]>
