[Foundation-l] Moderation and this list

[Chad]

So true, so true.

Chad H.

On Dec 21, 2007 12:32 PM, Dan Rosenthal <swatjester at gmail.com> wrote:
> Foundation-l, the mailing list nobody can edit for the encyclopedia
> everyone can?
>
> If we're going to get on the topic of censoring mailing lists, we
> should deal with Wiki-en-l first, THEN foundation-l. Most of what I
> see on foundation-l is constructive criticism, and inspired debate
> with a few snide remarks, not straight trolling attempts. Moderating
> this list would serve the effect of censoring legitimate criticism by
> allowing it to be subjected to a "judgment call" by the list
> moderators before being approved. You want to see a REAL cesspool,
> spend some time at Wiki-en-l; after that this list smells like roses.
>
> -Dan
>
> On Dec 21, 2007, at 12:25 PM, Andrew Whitworth wrote:
>
> >> I have to say that I agree with Birgitte here.  For me, Foundation-
> >> l has
> >> becoming incresasingly useless as a mailing list because it is so
> >> frequently dominated by people who seem to be very "bitter and
> >> mean-spirited" to the point that they are on the attack no matter
> >> what
> >> happens.
> >
> > So ignore them, block them, ban them, etc. If there are people whose
> > mean-spiritedness is preventing us from conducting legitimate business
> > here, or is preventing this list from being a useful resource, those
> > people should be removed from it. It is not anybody's duty or
> > responsibility to "put up" with people who are unhelpful,
> > unproductive, and even counter-productive. This list has a purpose and
> > "empowering trolls" or "dealing with trolls" is not that purpose.
> >
> >> I am unsure what we should do about foundation-l.  It has become a
> >> sewer.  It is difficult to balance our very strong desire for an
> >> unmoderated forum where people can feel comfortable making strong
> >> criticisms (nothing wrong with that!) with a forum where trolls are
> >> exhausting a lot of good people and spreading misinformation due to
> >> the
> >> inability of others to keep up with the sheer volume of malice.
> >
> > I don't see why this list has to be "unmoderated". None of the wikis
> > are unmoderated, and some of them are very strictly moderated. Set
> > rules: legitimate users will follow them, trolls will not. This is not
> > to say that the rules need to be complicated, or strict, etc. The
> > rules may not even need to be explicit, set some moderators who have
> > good judgement and tell them that they will "know it when they see
> > it". Hell, it works for pornography in the US, it will work for trolls
> > on the mailinglist.
> >
> > I would also submit a small disagreement that this list has become a
> > "sewer", but it's effectiveness has certainly been limited
> > unnecessarily.
> >
> > --Andrew Whitworth
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > foundation-l mailing list
> > foundation-l at lists.wikimedia.org
> > Unsubscribe: http://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> foundation-l mailing list
> foundation-l at lists.wikimedia.org
> Unsubscribe: http://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
>