[ale] as promised/threatened, an overly long post with probably nothing of real importance

[James Sumners]

I have managed a web BBS and OPed an IRC channel. In those two actions
I have learned that it takes a guiding hand to keep a community
together, cordial, and on topic. If temporary full moderation is
needed to do that, then so be it. Thus the lack of complaint from me.

Where I admin of the list, here is how I would do it:

1) Start a conversation among some public core members of the list to
establish what they think should be guidelines for posting to the
list.
2) Issue a statement to the public list outlining what should be
considered as acceptable posting behavior. This statement would also
be included in every list sign-up confirmation email.
3) Ask people to keep an eye out for potential "violation" emails (I
can't, and don't, read every single email sent to the list) and notify
me, privately, of said emails.
4) Send a friendly reminder of the community guidelines to offenders
and ask them to change their tone before moderation, or possible
removal, is set.

Maybe that isn't "free" and "open," but it works. I'm no fan of
censorship. I much prefer open discussion, but this list is "Atlanta
_LINUX_ Enthusiats." This list is not the "what political rant can I
start today" list.

On Tue, May 3, 2011 at 11:03 PM, Jim Kinney <jim.kinney at gmail.com> wrote:
> However, the aspect that concerns me the most is NO ONE COMPLAINED THAT I
> ALONE SHUT DOWN THE LIST. I made a unilateral decision and EVERYONE on this
> list just shrugged like sheep and went along. I got emails asking me to not
> bail out but if I was going to they would step up. But not a single email
> complaining that I took away their freedoms on this list. I expected 20-30
> emails within minutes of the announcement of my action. That it never came
> has indicated this is no longer the ALE from my memories but it is something
> strange and far less satisfying.



-- 
James Sumners
http://james.roomfullofmirrors.com/

"All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts
pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it
is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become
drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted."

Missionaria Protectiva, Text QIV (decto)
CH:D 59