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

Virgilio A. P. Machado vam at fct.unl.pt
Tue Apr 5 00:32:49 UTC 2011


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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