[vcf-midatlantic] What does Al Kossow have against VCF?

[Herb Johnson]

I think this discussion as titled, is inappropriate on principles.

First, it's a public discussion about an individual, their actions and 
their supposed motivations. What special knowledge or authority, do 
particular persons have or possess, regarding some one person other than 
themselves? I call this "gossip".

Second, this is a discussion group sponsored by a non-profit educational 
corporation, for public purpose. I doubt discussions of this class suit 
those purposes.

Any plausible rules of moderation would not permit persons to post 
negative commentary about an individual. If the owners of this 
discussion group fail to moderate, it falls to the members to 
self-moderate. And so I post accordingly.

Discussions about the operation of a mail list, are usually 
counter-productive; I choose this lesser evil.

Third, if there's a plausible discussion about something more 
appropriate, such as say changes in tastes in the vintage computing 
community (general or particular) - then change the subject line to 
reflect that discussion, and continue that discussion.

Put another way: If no one moderates or complains about gossip and 
personal arguments, and those posts continue, then that becomes the 
standard. It becomes normalized. Makes it easier to do the next time, 
and the next. This is the core argument for moderation.

Regards, Herb Johnson

-- 
Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA
http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net
preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing
email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com
or try later herbjohnson AT comcast DOT net