Bob Blick wrote:
> This is an admin message - I am posting it under the PIC topic tag so
> everyone sees it.
>
> In order to prevent clogging the PIC channel, if you wish to respond,
> remove [PIC] from the subject line.

Done, as requested.


> Recently a member I had put under 24 hour moderation asked for a
> clarification of "Forbidden Topics" and further expressed the sentiment
> that he would obey the rules if he felt they were being applied fairly.
>
> I will address the second item first. You must obey the rules even if
> you feel they are being applied unfairly. My job is to police the
> Piclist. Just like a policeman can haul you off to jail for 48 hours
> before you see the judge, I or any of the admins can stop you if we
> think you need to be stopped.

I'm afraid the policeman analogy is a bit of a stretch, but I'll play along. 
If I felt that I was being discriminated against by the police, I know what 
my options are. What recourse do I have, if I feel I'm being unfairly 
targeted by one of the admins?


[snip]
> Regarding Forbidden Topics, there are some examples on the registration
> page. They are guidelines, not simple rules that are easy to implement
> under any circumstance. You are expected to be a good citizen and think
> about what you are doing. For instance, racist jokes are not listed, but
> they are most certainly forbidden.

I do not recall a single instance of anyone posting a racist joke. And again 
it is a stretch -- I never argued that racist jokes should be allowed.


> This is not the Harvard Piclist. This is the MIT Piclist. It is, and
> should overwhelmingly be, about technology.

I don't think this is the criteria you use (nor should you) when deciding 
which topics to stomp out. For instance, there was recently an [OT] thread 
on shaving. How come you never stepped in to stop the "pollution"?


[snip]
> One of the reasons politics is not allowed is that it is divisive -
> especially to people who are not political scientists or are socially
> inept. I think that describes the Piclist membership pretty well :) I am
> using politics as an example. There are a multitude of topics that can
> be divisive.

This is another criterion that is not used (nor should be used) to determine 
what is appropriate, and what isn't. Just because something is divisive, 
does not mean it has no place on the PICList. There are recurring topics 
which are totally appropriate, even though they are divisive. One that comes 
to mind, is "should one learn assembly before programming in C?"  People on 
both sides have strong feelings about the subject, and it is often the 
divisive topics that are the most information-intensive and 
thought-provoking. As long as a discussion does not degrade to people 
calling each other names, what is the problem?


> When people are sharing ideas on the Piclist, we feel good about one
> another. But when one of them exhorts his pet agenda, suddenly we see a
> new side of that person, one we might not like. And I have a hard time
> ignoring that.

Bob, I think it's time people heard about *your* pet agenda regarding the 
PICList. I'll post it, in your own words (with my commentary), in the [OT].


[snip]
> I've been accused of censorship. That is ridiculous. Censorship is when
> a government restricts free speech in public. Your speech is free, you
> can get your own space on Blogspot if you want. You can even post a
> message once in a while on the Piclist mentioning you have a blog.

This sounds like something that Mugabe would say to the dissenters: "Since 
you like free speech so much, why don't you move to South Africa?"

Following your logic, why don't you leave me and others alone, and start 
your own private mailing list?


> If you have strong feelings about an issue, it probably doesn't belong
> on the Piclist at all.

And if you have a strong desire to shape the PICList in your own image, you 
probably should step down as admin.


> The Piclist is a place of good will and friendship. Not a place to press
> your personal agenda. Let's all try to build rapport and help each other
> as friends and allies.

I'd be glad to, but it is you who has a personal agenda. And you took 
advantage of an opportunity that presented itself last year, so you could be 
in a position to achieve your objectives by promoting your vision of the 
PICList, and suppressing other people's views.

You laid it all out in your posts, last year.


> Bob, for the Piclist admins

I have very strong doubts that you are speaking for all the PICList admins.

Vitaliy 

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