[epub] A moderator's role in e-publishing forums

["Dr.Mani Sivasubramanian" <drmani@xxxxxxxx>]

Hi all.

>Tina (bats eyelashes.. pretty please?;)

Those lovely eyes lured me back <g>

This is going to be a rather lengthy post, as it addresses
several issues related to the recent unpleasant incident.

First of all, thank you to all of you who *defended* me on
the list.  The intensity of the emotions displayed made me
trash the 'Goodbye, E-pub' post I had already written and
write this one instead!  Thanks a lot for your support.

Secondly, responding to off-topic issues, especially ones
couched in rude or harsh language, is a waste of time.  As
I wrote to Merle off-list, when you throw mud back at a
mud-slinger, the dirt sticks to your hands as well.

And finally, the most important issue in my mind -- the
level of moderation of this once-polite discussion list.

My friend Paul Myers wrote:
>Posts to a moderated list are, by definition, not spam. If
>the moderator approves them, they're acceptable regardless
>of the content.

Yes, absolutely.  That's why I'm wondering what the
moderators of this fantastic list were doing when they
approved a post that was downright rude, attacked me
personally by saying...

"Please learn some etiquette"

Those were stinging words indeed.  And will likely force
me to reluctantly abandon following this list unless there
is a firm commitment to heighten the level of moderation.

Provocative and controversial posts are the fuel of any
discussion group.  They generate discussion.  In general
I am in favor of them.  But they should attack the message,
NOT the messenger!  Ever.

Adventive's great discussion forums are the favorites of
many followers.  They generate intense debate, hotly
argued points of view, cutting edge topics and technologies,
fond beliefs and favorite practices.  But what makes those
vibrant rich discussions even greater is the level of
inter-personal respect and tolerance of members.

Adam and John Audette early on, and now the guest and
invited moderators, are rigid in what they will and won't
allow to get onto the forums.  Attacks directed at
messages are ok, those directed at people are not.
Passion is ok, rudeness is not.  Arguments are ok,
invective and hostility is not.  And they enforce this
by radically editing messages, deleting inappropriate
segments - or trashing them.

That's how I remember E-pub as being in the days when
Brian Alt grew and nourished it to its present level.
And that's how I'd like to see it always run.

It is sad when a *moderated* list that is devoted to
e-publishing issues and topics suddenly changes into a
forum for defending oneself from spamming accusations.
And in language and tone that is far too impolite and
harsh for my liking.

A list member attacked me.  In retaliation others
attack him.  This isn't a war-game.  I'll end with one
of my favorite quotes:

"A discussion is an exchange of knowledge.  An argument
is an exchange of ignorance."

Let's march forwards on a more positive note.

Mani

Dr.Mani Sivasubramanian
Author of "The Emotion Prism" - http://www.emotionprism.com

Watch out for my new ebook, THE EZINE MASTERS
Coming soon to...
http://www.EzineMarketingCenter.com/ezinemasters/


Moderator comment:

We'd like to respond to Dr. Mani's disappointment with the level of
moderation on epub:

Although epub has always been pretty tightly moderated, we 
decided to let some of the messages in the Dr. Mani/Tombo 
dispute go through because they did relate to legitimate 
issues. Members here are free to disagree with each other as 
long as the focus remains on what is said in the message and 
does not descend to irrelevant personal attacks, as in the 
numerous messages we did reject on this very topic. We have 
also refrained from stepping in and asking the group to change 
the subject because we don't want to stifle legitimate discourse, 
but perhaps now is that time. 

As long as I have your attention, may I also remind you all NOT to use 
MIME when sending messages, and to keep your sig lines to 5 or fewer,
with 30 characters per line or fewer? We end up stripping out lots of 
extraneous material in order to keep messages at manageable lengths.

Many thanks,
Janet



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