[Vision2020] The future of this list

[Mark Rounds]

Hi Folks

It is my opinion that we do not ban Mr. Stambler.  I suspect that most of us
find him to be intrusive and disconnected but that is not enough to start
censoring people.  No matter how high the bar is initially for such
strictures, it will invariably get lowered.  

Next thing you know, we will be expelling Doug Wilson for being callous and
sarcastic, myself for being pompous and pendatic, Joan Opyr for being
aggressive and militant or (gasp) Don Kaag for being a Marine.  We are all
part of this community and we have to learn to get along, even if we don't
see eye to eye.

That does not mean we have to listen to him.  The first line of defense is
the delete key.  The second is to get smart about your e-mail reader and
figure out how to filter out his various e-mail aliases.  He has the right
to speak, but not the right to compell me to listen.

The most appropriate thing to do is to cease to acknowledge him for any
reason.  I don't know how he views reality, but it seems that it is
important to him to have a capitive audience to rant to.  If we take that
away from him, he will go away.  When you respond to him, even with an
insult, you are encouraging him.  In my view, he is one of God's lost
children and needs help, not insults or abuse.  Perhaps by taking away his
podium, we can get him to see that fact.  Barring him from the forum will
only feed the  paronoia we have all witnessed.

Mark Rounds



At 03:57 PM 4/10/2003 -0700, london@moscow.com wrote:
>V2020 subscribers:
>    Though I have resisted this for months, I guess it is time to
>consider an question that could radically change the character and
>direction of this community list.
>    The Question---What are we going to do with Douglas Stambler?
>    I pose this question because of the world-record 13 postings of his
>that showed up on V2020 in the last few hours, including some nasty
>comments like: "Doug Wilson: Equal Opportunity Hate-Mongerer"
>    I also think it is time to bring this issue forward since Walter
>Steed posted the following question; "Hey, First Step, can you block the
>non-emails from Moscowgarbage???"
>    First Step is very generous to host this list at no charge.  That
>gift keeps V2020 (which has no money, account, corporate filings,
>hierarchy, etc) this remarkably open, free, and totally public forum.  I
>think of it as that famous soap box in Hyde Park in London--a place
>where anyone can stand and speak his/her piece.  Without a filter, a
>moderator, a controller, etc.  Anyway, First Step has the technical
>ability to deny access to the V2020 list to anyone.  But First Step does
>not want to exercise that kind of control, since it is not "their"
>list.  It is in fact, our list.  It belongs to its members.  The 400 or
>so subscribers--us, you and me.
>    So, the question about what we are going to do with Douglas Stambler
>is a question we have to ask ourselves.
>    What do you think?  Should we block his posts to this list?
>    To do so would change the nature of this forum.  This list was
>created 10 years ago as an open discussion list.  Compared to other such
>lists nationwide (most cities have one or more), V2020 has been very
>successful.  The membership is a cross-section of the community,
>including elected officials, city employees, etc.  The communication on
>the list is unfiltered, and therefore occasionally rude, mean-spirited,
>and wonderful.
>    Enough of this rhapsody.  The question remains: has Douglas Stambler
>been such an egregious nuisance (with his recent barrage of posts, his
>offensive comments, and his attempted "unsubscribing") that he should be
>the first person we ask First Step to block from our list?
>    I hope you all consider the question and respond to the list.
>Thanks BL
>
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