[Foundation-l] Request for moderation of Dan Rosenthal and AndrewGarrett

[Phil Nash]

Oh dear. In the hurly-burly of Wikipedia especially, trenchant, even strong, 
language seems to be accepted from some but not from others. Some give and 
take should be allowed but when a top 100 contributor is desysopped for 
little else by WP's ArbCom, who knows where the limits may be? This is a 
mailing list, and not a discussion forum or chatroom, where little really 
persists for that long, so perhaps higher standards might prevail. However, 
if the comments were that gross (and I don't see that they are), a temporary 
moderation might be seen to be fair by some, although my gut feeling tells 
me that a warning should siffice, lest such a reaction be seen to be 
punitive.

wp:User:Rodhullandemu (retired, although I can't even put that on my own 
user page at present!)

Virgilio A. P. Machado wrote:
> After a cool off period of about 48 hours and considerable
> reflection, it is my conviction that the posts of two above mentioned
> editors should be moderated from now on.
>
> Andrew Garrett wrote, Sun Apr 3 10:13:26 UTC 2011, "Your messages are
> deliberately obnoxious, unpleasant, and off-topic to boot." it is
> unclear what messages he is referring to, but these are not
> acceptable terms to classify anybody's messages, unless it is
> acceptable that others classify Andrew Garrett's or anybody else's
> messages as "deliberately obnoxious, unpleasant, and off-topic to
> boot." and therefore asks him or them to "Cut it out, please." "What
> is good for the goose is good for the gander."
>
> After engaging in a "friendly and polite exchange" with Dan
> Rosenthal, he saw fit to send me an e-mail, Sun, 3 Apr 2011 05:26,
> concerning "[Foundation-l] Wiki-revolution," using language
> unbecoming to a gentleman, that I'll not repeat. This kind of
> behavior cannot and should not be tolerated from members of this
> list. Should everybody start sending unspeakable messages to other
> members of the list? I do have experience of exchanging off list
> messages with other members, but those were used for clarification,
> to reach a mutual understanding and establish new bridges and avenues
> of communication. They were used to improve relations with other
> members and, as a result, improve the peaceful and cordial exchanges
> that should take place on this list, despite any disagreements and
> differences of opinion. There can never be any disagreements or
> differences of opinion as far as the level of education and manners
> used on this list, and towards members of this list both on and off
> list. This is no army barracks, farm stables, or brawl among
> drunkards on the town fairgrounds.
>
> As Dan Rosenthal might wish to present evidence that no harm was
> intended or done, by making public his message, I authorize that he
> so does. I have no trouble in reproducing Dan Rosenthal's message on
> this list, provided he grants me, here, in public, on this list,
> authorization to do it.
>
> I believe that Dan Rosenthal's action called for more severe
> sanctions, but I have many reservations concerning all sorts of so
> called severe sanctions on this list and Wikimedia projects in
> general. We all know how easily they can be circunvented by the less
> scrupulous. Therefore, as in the case of Andrew Garrett, my request
> is that their posts to be moderated from now on. That should be
> sufficient to prevent Dan Rosenthal from coughing again on this list
> and hopefully at least make him hesitate before sending unworthy
> messages off list.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Virgilio A. P. Machado (Vapmachado)
>
>
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