more kvetching...

[sonic5]

lots of interesting, thought-provoking comments made
here over the last few days. 

As several folks have pointed out  free speech is not
a carte blanche invitation to say anything.  Governments and
even  on-line communities have laws or agreed upon standards of 
conduct that define where the borders are.  But absent any sort of 
FAQ defining appropriate behavior here on babel-list its hard to 
discern exactly when someone has gone over the line. Oh we can tell 
when our sensibilities have been offended, and we all have equal 
"rights" to voice our disappointment with specific behavior. But I 
grow wary when we (general editorial we) attempt to restrict others 
only after we've been angered - at that point it seems more 
like retaliation than an attempt to keep order.

Perhaps the solution is to create an intro blurb or 2 that's sent to
new subscribers defining not just what this list is about (i.e.,
discussion of patti smith) but what it isn't (something along the 
line of: all conversation is welcome, however personal attacks are
not appropriate and repeated "offenses" can result in being unsubbed 
by the listowner.) Such guidelines  might help eliminate the type of 
personal invectives that are being so casually tossed about of late.
They would also enable an outside party (in this instance Michael
our listowner) to step in before things get out of hand.
(and it would keep Michael from being put in the wildly unfair 
position we've put him in now - of being asked to clean up a
mess that we've created and perpetuated but for which no one will
back down from.)  
The key, for moi, is that such guidelines be enforced across the 
board - newbie and old-timer alike.


Re: Irena's great 
post, turning the other cheek doesn't mean just waiting to get 
hit again, but rather trying another 
(usually more successful) approach to change. (warning! warning! 
brief historical lecture about to begin!) Maybe cause spring 
training's commin' on I'm reminded of jackie robinson. when robinson 
broke the "color barrier" by signing  on with the dodgers, branch 
rickey made him promise not to respond to all the inevitable taunts 
and race baiting. rickey and robinson (which sounds like a law firm 
or a nyc steak house....)took the approach that jackie's superior 
playing would be the best argument anyone could make for his being 
allowed to play major league ball. And damn if it didn't work. No, it 
didn't stop folks from hurling abuse at the guy, but it lets us 
remember robinson as a great player and dignified person not a 
hotheaded jerk who couldn't check his ego at the gate. 

okay lecture over. no quiz this week. for next class please study up 
on starting pitcher stats and write a 500 word essay 
on why the diamondbacks think andy benes deserves $18 million. 

sonic5