Re: abandoning the rules of discourse
srivasta@datasync.com (Manoj Srivastava) wrote on 24.10.97 in <87n2jz8et6.fsf@tiamat.datasync.com>:
> >>"Joost" == Joost Kooij <kooij@mpn.cp.philips.com> writes:
>
> Joost> I agree that indeed only very, very occasionally the
> Joost> mailinglists get disturbed in a way that ought to call for
> Joost> measures. So rarely in fact that all too much emphasis on
> Joost> possible measures might be a bigger disturbance to the lists
> Joost> than the occasional nutter's appearance.
>
> I don't know. I'd rather we grasp the nettle and have a clear
> policy in place rather than just wish the issue went away ;-)
So then here's a proposal for a policy:
If a list participant (who is otherwise eligible for the list, like being
a project member if the list is debian-private) undertakes an action that
seriously endangers the existence or use of the list, then as an emergency
measure, that individual can be blocked from the list until the matter is
resolved. Such an action might be posting X11 to the list, but not being
rude.
> On the other hand, you were not the one being insulted, were
> you? No doubt it is extremely edifying to the bystanders, but it is
> less fun for the people bearing the brunt of the abuse (I'm learning
> from the media, I think).
Yet we still want freedom of the press, don't we?
I think I accidentally stumbled upon the right word here. You can't have
freedom without the freedom to insult.
There's always a price you pay for freedom. This is part of the price for
free speech. My take on that is that as long as it's not actually
dangerous, don't try to force it away - you'll only hurt yourself.
Case in point: I believe the project lost when Lars left debian-devel.
MfG Kai
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