John Lee wrote:
On 9/7/07, Ray Saintonge <saintonge(a)telus.net>
wrote:
Earlier: "... I receive ... private emails from
Members of this List
Community ... persons ... NOT banned or moderated ... but who fear
ending up that way [anywhere] if they voice their opinions ..."
Ditto. Some of my most valuable correspondents are off list. I'm even
maintaining a connection with one moderator (of another list) who banned
me for actions not on the list - another Zen Cohan if ever there was
one!
The most disturbing thing about that exchange was that the person
proposing a more open distribution of information understood the nature
of privacy and confidence, while at least one opponent did not believe
that the discussion could move forward unless these trusts were broken.
Excuse me? What is the point of posting a vague alarmist description of
apparent terror imposed on the list by ostensibly totalitarian mods, and
then refusing to disclose any details, or provide any means of obtaining
details from or otherwise engaging in conversation with those who fear
retaliation? Is there any other way to approach the issue? If there isn't,
then why broach it if there is no feasible way to address it?
This seems like a hypersensitive reaction. The terms "alarmist
description" and "totalitarian mods" are yours, not that of the person
who mentioned the private e-mails. Revealing names or outing the people
who complained in confidence will have no bearing on finding a
solution. In many respects revealing those names will give some the
chance to personalise the problem, thereby avoiding the real issues. At
best personalising the issue will only solve the problem as it relates
to those individuals.
I have no reason to believe that Marc acted dishonestly in raising these
facts.
I'm not even asking that I see the specific emails
or for the names of those
worried to be revealed publicly. They can contact me or any of the other
mods with their concerns; we never place people on moderation for off-list
incidents.
What difference will it make if they contact you?
If these people have no intent of seeking to address
the problem, but
instead find someone else to make a vague explanation of the problem on the
list, while refusing to come forward (at least to the mods or a mod) to aid
resolution of the issues at hand, then how do you expect *anything* to move
forward?
Maybe it's just not about just solving individual problems.
Ec