Theos-Talk Archives (November 2001 Message tt00078)

|-----Original Message-----
|From: Bill Meredith [mailto:bilmer@surfsouth.com] 
|Sent: Monday, 5 November 2001 10:37 AM
|To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
|Subject: Re: Theos-World establishing the right tone for 
|future discussions
|
|
|
|
|----------
|> From: Eldon B Tucker <eldon@theosophy.com>
|> To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
|> Subject: Theos-World establishing the right tone for future 
|> discussions
|> Date: Sunday, November 04, 2001 2:46 PM
|> 
|> The following is based upon some comments I made
|> on another list. I've changed them slightly, to
|> the portions of my comments useful here. I'm
|> still mulling over how to establish the right
|> tone for our future discussions. Any last-minute
|> helpful comments are still appreciated.
|> 
|> -- Eldon
|> 
|> ----
|> 
|> I'm thinking over some guidelines for respectful
|> discussions for this list. I'm almost ready to write
|> out a draft. First would be no name calling, which
|> includes classifying people with some negative
|> stereotype. Second would be no general hatred of
|> other peoples, be they of a different race, form
|> of faith or belief, holding a different political
|> stand, etc. Third would be to not persist challenging
|> someone with questions about a particular topic
|> once they've said they don't want to talk about it
|> more. The discussion can continue with others, but
|> each person has the right to say, "I'm dropping out
|> of this thread," and not be continually pulled
|> back into it. (This "pulling back" could be by
|> questions directed at them, or by mention of them
|> by name with comments that require some response.)
|> 
|> When someone misbehaves, they could be kicked off a list,
|> but kicking someone off a list really does not keep them
|> off. It ultimately comes back to everyone agreeing to
|> behave themselves. Someone can immediately come back
|> under other email id's, lurk, then join in with the
|> same material as before anytime. Ultimately, a group
|> is responsible to maintain itself. If our list
|> degenerates into hateful darkness, then it's up to all
|> of us as fellow list members to speak up and not let
|> people get out of hand.
|> 
|> Another option with Yahoo Groups is that one can cause certain 
|> subscribers to be moderated, even though the overall group is 
|> unmoderated. If someone misbehaves, pestering people with unwanted 
|> challenges or constantly calling them names and attacking them, one 
|> can warn them, then if the behavior doesn't stop, they can be 
|> personally moderated. Then, for a week or two, one'd get to accept
|> or reject all their future postings, until the time is
|> up and one decide to give them general posting privileges
|> again.
|
|This sounds useful on the face of it but it falls into the 
|same category as kicking someone off the list. If you 
|moderate someone they can simply join under a different 
|pseudonym and even argue with themselves on your list. 
|The only way to deal with cyber pests is to killfile them. 
|When ever a new pseudonym emerges spouting the same old crap. 
|Killfile. Bart understands. If someone on this list is still 
|reading material from someone who continually annoys them then 
|they are getting what they deserve. Killfile. Bill 
|> -- Eldon
|> 
|>
|
|

I agree - when someone says something we disagree with or hurts or
delicate sensibilities we should take the ostrich option. Take the safe
bet. Stick your head in the sand.

Cheers

Nos