The Logic Off Topic list

> >Good point, but by that same logic: should we leave the list 100%
> >uncensored with an ambiguous list policy and let people talk about
> >whatever they want, because 7 people want it?
> 
> Yes. If 17 are pro-moderation and 13 are contra, and the other 
> 570 apparently don't care, then I don't see how you'll ever 
> have a strong point in favour of moderation. Apparently the 
> status quo (= no moderation) is fine for the large majority out 
> there -- otherwise they would have voted.

Pure speculation... It's impossible to tell if they didn't vote 
because they like the status quo, didn't vote because they don't 
care, or didn't vote because they have abandoned their email 
address / YahooID and don't pay attention at all to the list anymore. 

> This list has been around for years, and usually has been a 
> "happy place". At times a fight broke out, nobody got hurt, 
> most had a good time witnessing how some people got beat up 
> :-), and everybody was happy. Why in heaven's name do we 
> even have to *think* about this?

I'm afraid it's because too many people like debating/arguing as a 
hobby. :-) Everyone was happy before because for quite a long time 
this list remained focued all by itself. Everyone was *not* happy 
when the huge political thread broke out, otherwise I wouldn't have 
moderated the list.

Originally when I had to "break up" the politics thread I had 
intended to unmoderate the list again as soon as it settled down. 
There was so much argument pro and against censorship etc, and 
because the 8 admins couldn't come to a conclusive decision, we 
decided to leave it up to the group to decide via the second poll. 
Yes, the most vocal side here are the people who do not wish for the 
group to have any restrictions, but it would not be fair to the 
people who voted *for* moderation to simply end the thread and let 
your particular side gets its way. The others might not be speaking 
out as frequently and loudly as the anti-censorship camp, but it 
would not be fair to ignore their opionions either. Since we can't 
please everyone in this situation it's only fair to please the 
majority of active list members, not the ones who talk louded and 
longest about this.

It's exactly because we didn't want to have to think about this 
anymore, that the last poll was created to decide this by a simple 
vote.. 

> Wrong.  "way off topic threads like this don't come up very 
> often at all" and that's _precisely_ the reason there *never* 
> is the need to step in.  

When way off topic threads start becoming racist and personal attacks 
are being made, we do have a very good reason to step in. No one 
needs that, here or anywhere else. 

> These threads die out by themselves. In a few days, or a few 
> weeks -- who cares?

All the people who signed up for this list, thinking since it is 
a "sister list" to the LUG and our other Emagic lists, topics 
discussed here would be related to music... 
 
Jeremy