NOTICE FROM THE LIST HOST (re: recent political commentary)

From: John Foust <jfoust_at_threedee.com>
Date: Tue Aug 21 13:07:22 2001

At 09:24 AM 8/21/01 -0700, Sellam Ismail wrote:
>Some sort of moderation IS required for off-topic posts. The off-topic
>messages in the past year and a half have been so grossly off-topic as to
>make moderation easy. An occasional rant or short-lived series is just
>fine, but when a discussion on guns or carbeurators stretches on for
>WEEKS, that's just too much.

The list is full of self-appointed and voluble experts on very obscure
topics. You're happy when they're comparing the length and girth
and texture of their big manly obsolete computer collection, but
you're surprised when they drift off-topic and wax expert on other topics?

I think the core of the problem is that, given off-topic topic X,
this list tends to have a significant minority who cheerfully
chime in about their experience in that non-CCC field. There's
always going to be a fraction who are happy to go off-topic.
Moderation will eventually piss off the bulk of the list,
particularly if they think it's heavy-handed or inept.
It's a thankless job.

>I say, if an off-topic thread hits four messages, all subsequent messages
>are shit-canned, and the offending party warned. That should allow enough
>flexibility for people to let off some steam and then get back on topic.
>I'm in front of my computer a lot. Like most of the day. I'll be happy
>to take on the first shift of a TEMPORARY moderator. It's an unpopular
>job, I know, but I've never been one to shy away from controversy.

How did we shift from "weeks" to four posts that might've taken
minutes to arrive?

Pre-approving posts will lead to other accusations. Offers for
free cool equipment are sometimes fulfilled in minutes here...
and now the moderators get first pick.

I've seen good moderators in my day. They had a very light hand on
the reins. None of them succeeded in reforming the unwashed by
repeatedly screaming "ASSSSSSSSS!" even if the heathen deserved it.

You have considered that the offenders intended to drag a stick
across your cage just to see what happened, right?

- John
Received on Tue Aug 21 2001 - 13:07:22 BST