[LINK] The future of Link

[Stilgherrian]

On 13/6/05 1:27 PM, "Ivan Trundle" <ivan at itrundle.com> wrote:
> I'm not suggesting that certain protagonists should be expelled, [snip]

I'll suggest it then!

    I ask that people who make personal attacks be warned once about
    their inappropriate behaviour and, if they continue the personal
    attacks, that they be removed from Link immediately.

I'm not a fan of censorship, but this isn't censorship. We're not saying
that certain people or topics are verboten. We're just saying that to
participate in The Community of Link we ask for a certain minimum standard
of behaviour -- no more than you'd expect in any other social situation.

"No personal attacks" seems a very reasonable standard to me.

I see Link like an "all welcome" meeting at the local school or church hall
to discuss some topic of interest. Anyone can turn up, and anyone's welcome
to speak. But they're NOT welcome if they abuse people, or if they punctuate
every speaker's statements with "Yeah what would you expect from a fascist?"

(Indeed, they wouldn't even be welcome if the meeting was about childcare
funding but they kept talking about the problems with the drains -- and the
ever-polite Mr Barry does tell people to "take that topic elsewhere" from
time to time.)

Link can be fascinating, and it still attracts posters with interesting
things to say. I'd hate that to be threatened simply because we allowed one
rude person to continue alienating people to the extent that they felt
uncomfortable taking part -- a point I believe we've reached.

To Vic C:

    I can understand the frustration you must feel when people
    who hold a different point of view just won't "give in" and
    agree with your strongly-held beliefs. But that doesn't
    give you license to start calling them extremists, implying
    they're drug-addled or to make other personal attacks.

    If they're not convinced by your logic and rhetoric, then
    take a step back, consider what you're writing, and see if
    you can state your case more persuasively. Provoking a
    slagging match just makes things unpleasant for everyone.

    I honestly believe you've crossed the boundary far too many
    times recently. I've been disgusted. I just can't understand
    how someone with such a strong track record of involvement
    in so many Internet communities over the years can behave so
    appallingly badly.

If anyone thinks I'm out of line here, please tell me! But as I read the
mood, people have reached the point of saying "Enough is enough!" Now all we
have to do is work out what to do about it.

Stil


-- 
Stilgherrian <stil at stilgherrian.com>
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