Stephen Black wrote:
> This seems like an excellent issue to stay out of. Nevertheless, I
> have to say that I've considered Michael's question carefully, and I
> see no indication that it contains the slightest degree of threat
> against Nancie. Insensitive yes, but most of us are guilty of that at
> some time on TIPS. It seems a genuine if tasteless request for
> information. Moreover, if I recall Nancie's reply accurately, she
> confirmed that, in her experience, the traditional Korean family
> does include an authoritarian and sometimes abusive husband.
>
> I certainly do not approval of all of Michael's postings but I don't
> think this one warrants the action Bill took. And if it means that
> Michael is gone, I regret it.
I have to agree.
While Michael Sylvester's message was clearly offensive and tasteless, it
was certainly no more so than many other posts to this list--including
more than a few aimed at Michael himself!
The statement was ethnocentric, but not intimidating--and I believe
Nancie saw it in that same light herself.
Expulsion from an academic list should require a much greater violation
of list etiquette than Michael displayed in that post. At the very least,
it should require deliberate harassment of other members, extensive use of
profanity or obscenities, or a continued pattern of deliberately racist,
sexist, or homophobic postings. None of these were present in sufficient
degree in that message to warrent even a warning, let alone expulsion, and
I would hope that Bill will see that clearly himself and follow his own
advice to apologize to the TIPS list for a post that could otherwise
result in a fear of censorship among the members of the list, and a
concurrent reduction in the quality and openness of communications.
There are many things that Michael Sylvester says in this list that I
find personally or professionally inappropriate or offensive--but I have
yet to see him post a single message that even came close to stepping
across the line between poor taste and content that would justify
expulsion.
Rick
--
Rick Adams
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Department of Social Sciences
Jackson Community College, Jackson, MI
"... and the only measure of your worth and your deeds
will be the love you leave behind when you're gone."
Fred Small, J.D., "Everything Possible"
