[LINK] Moderator Censorship

[Greg Taylor]

My biggest concern is that Robin intervened as moderator in a situation 
where he was personally involved in a robust argument as a list 
*member*. In such a situation, if moderation was required at all, it is 
surely appropriate for the moderator personally involved to abstain from 
the moderation role altogether. The remaining moderators would also need 
to consider staying out of it, lest their intervention be seen as biased 
support for a fellow Amigo.

IMHO, the debate in question did not require a "moderation note", nor 
has any debate on Link in my memory. No list member has any power to 
"suppress discussion or opinions". List members can and will post on a 
topic whenever they wish, irrespective of any other member's desire or 
suggestion that debate should cease.

I would like to see the "moderators" consider their role more as list 
administrators. Intervention to moderate discussion on the list itself 
should be seen as an extreme action, not a routine one, limited in most 
cases to a gentle reminder about excessive off-topic posts (whatever 
"off-topic" might mean for Link). Most list members are intelligent and 
mature enough to deal with robust debate and the occasional ad hominem 
without being treated like errant children.

The Link reactor is over-heated. However, it is a Thorium reactor and 
will therefore self-moderate without the need for the operators to 
insert emergency control rods or destroy it by drowning ;-)

Greg