Inappropriate tone on this mailing list and requiremenfofor goce

[Bret Busby]

On Wed, 6 May 2009, Lisi Reisz wrote:

> 
> On Wednesday 06 May 2009 15:00:10 Rashkae wrote:
>> I do have one additional wish list for moderation.  If a moderator steps
>> into an OT thread and asks it be moved, (private or sounder, as the case
>> may be), the discussion ends *there.* and people brazenly defying the
>> rule should be treated to the harshest measure of moderation.
>
> This is obviously desirable, but there is a practical problem.  There is bound
> to be an overlap because of the nature of email and how individuals
> choose/are able to use it.  A post _after_ such a notification may well have
> been sent before it, or anyhow before the writer had read the request from a
> moderator.
>
> Lisi
>
>

I quite agree.

I think that removal after a "terminate this thread" message from a 
moderator, should be at the discretion of the moderator(s).

They can determine whether a message posted in a thread after an "End 
this thread" message is posted by them, is to be regarded as defiant.

I think that a simple rule is that, if material in a thread becomes 
contentious (the behaviour of a poster is regarded as unacceptable), 
instead of subscribers replying to such messages within the list, their 
concerns should be put in a message to the list administrator(s), who 
can then deal with the problem as they will.

That way, the list can be freed from postings "you should not have said 
that", or, "he/she/it should not have done that on this list", and 
agree/disagree messages regarding the conduct of other posters on the 
list.

I also think that it is appropriate etiquette, before a person responds 
to a message in a thread, for the person to (I can do this in PINE, so 
people with GUI MTA's should be able to do it) sort the messages in the 
folder by subject, and read all of the messages in the thread. That way, 
duplication of responses can be minimised, and "End this thread" 
messages that are posted by list administrators/moderators, can be 
found. It is easy enough to, after having read or skimmed the messages 
in a thread, return to the message at which that resort was done, and, 
resort the messages by order of arrival.

And, that way, if a list administrator or moderator has posted a 
message with a subject like "<thread subject> - END THIS THREAD NOW" and 
messages are posted with that subject after a period of time, for 
example, four hours, at the discretion of the list 
administrators/moderators, then the poster of such messages are "fair 
game" for removal.

Such rules could be included in a HOWTO that could be sent initially to 
the list, and, subsequently to new subscribers onm confirmation of 
subscription, prefaced by something like "READ THIS - contraventions may 
result in summary removal from the list and being blacklisted?

Basically, the list administrators/moderators could create a set of 
rules for behaviour on the list, and the degree of strictness of 
administration, would be up to the list administrators/moderators, and 
complaints about behaviour on the list, should be more appropriately 
addressed to the list administrators/moderators, rather than being 
posted to the list.

--
Bret Busby
Armadale
West Australia
..............

"So once you do know what the question actually is,
  you'll know what the answer means."
- Deep Thought,
   Chapter 28 of Book 1 of
   "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
   A Trilogy In Four Parts",
   written by Douglas Adams,
   published by Pan Books, 1992

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