[LINK] Moderation note: Attempting to suppress discussion or opinions (Match Koltai - Was Fukushima scaremongers becoming increasingly desperate)

[Tom Koltai]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robin Whittle [mailto:rw at firstpr.com.au] 
> Sent: Saturday, 26 March 2011 10:03 PM
> To: link at anu.edu.au
> Cc: Tom Koltai; Martin Barry; Ivan Trundle
> Subject: Moderation note: Attempting to suppress discussion 
> or opinions (Match Koltai - Was Fukushima scaremongers 
> becoming increasingly desperate)
> 
> 
> Hi Tom,
> 
> This is a note from me as one of the three Link List owners, 
> without having checked with them, so it's not authoritative.  
> If the other two Amigos - Martin Barry and Ivan Trundle - 
> think differently about this, then their decision will prevail.
> 
> You wrote, in part:
> 
> > Now could we stop discussing it, please. Or could we move 
> this rather 
> > moribund discussion to alt.rec.henny.penny
> 
> I think it is unreasonable of you or anyone else on the list 
> to argue or assert in such a dismissive fashion that any 
> particular subject shouldn't be discussed on Link.
> 
> I think your objection is not to the subject, but to the 
> expression of opinions, arguments etc. which are contrary to 
> your own.  So my impression of your actions are that you are 
> using the list in an attempt to malign the opinions of List 
> Members whose views are contrary to your own - by asserting 
> that they are not worthy of being expressed on the list.
> 
> You are not required to discuss this or any other subject.  
> If you believe it is off topic, then you can set an example 
> to other list members by not writing to the list about it.
> 
> I would consider it bad form for list members to write 
> privately to any other list members discouraging them from 
> posting, except in the most polite and constructive manner.  
> To do so in a way which is dismissive, condescending, 
> intimidating or which gives them the impression that your 
> attempt to dissuade them from writing has something to do 
> with their opinion, rather than about the topic being 
> suitable for Link, would likewise be at odds with what I (and 
> I guess the other two Amigos) expect from Link list members.
> 
> Link has survived this far with little or nothing regarding 
> formal declaration of what is in scope, what sort of 
> discussions may take place etc.  I am not suggesting this 
> should change.
> 
> I am saying that in my view, list members should support 
> other list members in expressing their views constructively 
> and respectfully on the list.
> 
> If you think something is off-topic, then by all means write 
> to this effect, respectfully and constructively - on the 
> list, to the author's privately and/or to the List Owners.
> 
> We Three Amigos are the final arbiters of what is on-topic 
> for Link.  My view is that many mailing lists are being used 
> to discuss the Japanese nuclear crisis and that its fine for 
> Link to be used for this too.
> 
> I can't rule out that we Three Amigos *might* decide that 
> certain opinions may not be expressed on the list, but I find 
> it hard to imagine what such opinions would be.  I am sure 
> that the other two Amigos would not be in flavour of banning 
> or discouraging the expression of opinions such as "3 or 4 
> burnt, exploded or otherwise damaged nuclear reactors are a 
> serious concern".
> 
> Please don't write to the list trying to discourage other 
> list members from discussing any particular subject, or 
> expressing any particular opinion.
> 
>   - Robin


I said:
> Now could we stop discussing it, please. Or could we move 
> this rather moribund discussion to alt.rec.henny.penny

Quote/  [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henny_Penny]
Henny Penny, also known as Chicken Licken or Chicken Little, is a fable
in the form of a cumulative tale about a chicken who believes the world
is coming to an end. The phrase The sky is falling! features
promininently in the story, and has passed into the English language as
a common idiom indicating a hysterical or mistaken belief that disaster
is imminent.
/Quote

I would never ever attempt to censor anyone opinion under any
circumstances.
Robin, you lost serious points with the above claptrap and should
probably dismiss yourself from further comment on the basis of a
conflict of interest.
Damn, I did it again but this time, I wasn't joking.