At 05:19 PM 3/2/01 +0000, you wrote:
>Dale (and list-members) --
>
>In my rather strong (and definitely not humble) opinion, moderation of a
>mailing list equates to censorship ... either actual or implied. I prefer
>a free exchange of ideas, and if people get insulted, so be it. Insult me
>back. It's just words ... it's not like we're coming after each other
>with a stick.
>
>If someone crosses the line too many times, I don't have an issue with
>asking them to leave ... but in general, I'm a firm believer in judicious
>use of the delete key. If I don't care for what someone says, I delete it.
>If I don't want to read other messages by that person, I filter them
>directly into the trash ... but I don't feel it should EVER be up to any
>one person to decide what I should and should not, and can and cannot read.
>
>I'm truly irked by Dale's decision to take this step ... just because one
>person has a problem with Ray Etherton and Mike Kone. My big question is
>whether or not any of the CR list-members (besides Dale) will even see
>this message.
I know we've been through this before, but it is Dale's party and we're all invited guests. Out of respect for my host, I for one will continue to act like one, and expect others to do so as well.
I've thrown more than one friend and/or family member out of my own home when they wouldn't behave themselves in a sober, civilized manner, so I have no difficulty with Dale's rules and sense of territorial imperative. They have the whole rest of the world to be jerks in. I refuse to tolerate it in MY little refuge from idiocy and intolerance. At other functions I exercise my freedom to walk out and go home when party guests start to get drunk and/or obnoxious, but not this time. This is one party I'm not going to be driven out of by bozos who won't behave themselves. It's not censorship, it's civility. This is one gathering where the bozos can exercise their freedom to behave or be gone. This is a designated jerk-free zone, and it's the jerks' turn to go find somewhere else to scream at each other. You have the whole rest of the world. How tough is it to take it off group if you want to scream at each other? We have to filter out enough of that junk in the real world. We shouldn't have to do it here too. If you can't respect each other, at least show some respect for your host.
I don't have time for this, but it's important. Thanks Dale. On with the party.
From somewhere momentarily outside the Bozone Larry "as big a flaming ####### as anybody on the planet when I need to be or choose to be, but NOT HERE" Osborn