On Sat, 03 Mar 2007 07:50:33 -0500, Tariq Ab- Jo- Tu- tariqabjotu@gmail.com wrote:
Do you think that the presence of a baying mob materially affected the outcome? I don't.
I do, although I'd compare this to a large peaceful protest rather than to a violent riot that your "baying mob" characterization makes this out to be. Oh, I love how semantics can so easily twist a situation... Those who were incivil throughout this were wrong, but the rest were more than entitled to voicing their opinions and probably had some effect on the change in Jimbo's position and/or, perhaps, Essjay's imminent resignations. The large number of established users denouncing Essjay's actions (as evidenced through the RfC and other media) certainly had to mean something.
Did you see the "straw poll" on sanctions? A lot of the agitation came from people he's had past disputes with. I found the hostility and above all the haste to be distinctly inappropriate - like the tabloids descending on a politician after his opponents have dug up some dirt.
I don't think the loudness or the baying for blood helped in any way. I do think that enough people will have had quiet words in Jimmy's ear that he'd have come to the same conclusion anyway. I believe Jimmy is more inclined to listen to measured words than petitions of the disgruntled.
I don't meant to characterise all concerned as a mob, by the way - several people while taking some part in the process did their level best to make it less hostile, and I salute them. Nor does that mean the concerns expressed are not valid.
Guy (JzG)