ADMIN: List Ps and Qs
- Subject: ADMIN: List Ps and Qs
- From: J* I* J*
- Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2000 18:00:49 -0800
From: John I Jones <jijones@ix.netcom.com>
I think we need to all sit back and take a deep breath and remember a
few things about posting to lists in general and iris-talk in
particular.
I would prefer to just sit back and let this list take care of itself,
and mostly it seems to get along just fine. Recently, however, there
have been some posts on the list that I think are not appropriate.
Lists are a public community. In ordinary conversation, we may know our
audience and be able to read the myriad clues as to what the person is
really trying to say (or not say) Things like facial expression,
intonation, hand gestures, posture and other physical indicators offer
lots of clues to what someone is trying to say. In an email we have none
of those to rely on and must trust that words will be taken in the
spirit we intend. On a mailing list of 350+ subscribers it is wise to be
careful with what you say.
Certainly one needs to be able to express an opinion on a subject.
However, there are ways to do it such that it does not criticize someone
else's comments, call them to task, or deprecate them. It is all right
to disagree, but do it, for instance, by asking for clarification or by
expressing an alternative viewpoint rather than degrading someone else's thoughts.
I want to encourage, and I want the culture of the list to encourage,
everyone to post on any thread that is appropriate for the list.
However, I will not countenance attacks by one person on another on the
list. There is no reason that you cannot express your opinion on a
subject, without attacking the other author. If you have a choice of
being a little snide or not, choose the more pleasant form; question
rather than challenge; offer alternatives rather than being
confrontational. Insults, arrogance to the point of being rude, personal
attacks, or any other form of inconsiderate behavior will bring down
the wrath of John.
Nor will I tolerate someone making inappropriate private posts to
someone in response to a list post. If there is a problem with someone's
post, it is my prerogative to post a response or encourage a change in
style if I choose to do so. Oldsters on the list are expected to know
the list policies and be better at adhering to them. Beginners get a
little slack and aren't expected to be as familiar with the policies
(although everyone is expected to read the Welcome Message)
If you choose to ignore very simple list courtesy, you can expect to
hear from me in very loud terms. And if that does not work, I have a
variety of tools at my disposal to manage your membership in the list.
This list is a public place without rigid rules, but you CAN make a
concerted effort to make your own postings a model of relevance and
courtesy. Any collaborative activity requires both tolerance for
differences *and* a respect for some commonly accepted "rules of the
road." This is our community and I try to amend its policies to reflect
the needs of the list, but someone has to be in charge and for better or
worse that person is me.
As to obnoxious private posts, if you get one, the best thing to do is
to contact me. Starting a discussion on the list about an attack message
is generally ineffective and disruptive to the list. If a problem
develops it is better to let me handle it. If you are distressed about
something, email me privately and I will look into it. I have anecdotal
evidence about some folks who have been sending obnoxious private posts,
and all I can say is that if I ever get direct evidence (and someday I
will) your days will be numbered.
We continually get new members and we need to be aware that they may be
frightened off by posts that are inappropriate or aggressive for fear
that they will be similarly attacked. I am not saying that we all need
to agree with each other, that would be most boring, but a community
that engenders a open and courteous discussion of issues grows and
builds on itself.
(Credit to Tom Little for segments of some of his previous posts that I
have used here)
John | "There be dragons here"
| Annotation used by ancient cartographers
| to indicate the edge of the known world.
________________________________________________
USDA zone 8/9 (coastal, bay)
Fremont, California, USA
Visit my website at:
http://members.home.net/jijones
President, Westbay Iris Society
Director, Region 14 of the AIS
AIS Special Committee for Electronic Member Services
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