From: Aron Roberts (aron@socrates.berkeley.edu)
Date: Tue Jan 15 2002 - 10:39:55 PST
There has recently been a discussion on the Micronet list regarding
a posting by Ted Crum on January 11, 2002 and of a private response
to Ted by Greg Small which asserted that Ted's posting was
inappropriate. Ted followed up with a public apology, after which an
active discussion ensued.
Various follow-ups have, in particular, touched upon issues of
moderation and/or censorship of the Micronet mailing list. I'd like
to thank Ted, Greg, Burke Bundy, Michael Sinatra, and Gordon Adams,
in particular, for the thoughtful comments they have contributed to
this discussion.
The following reflects my personal understanding, as the
administrator of Micronet's mailing list since its inception in 1993
(and a co-founder of the Micronet group itself in 1989):
- The Micronet group itself is a "voluntary professional
organization" and is self-governed by its members.
One or more of its members wil volunteer to serve as the group's
coordinators, typically for a one-year or two-year period.
The primary role of the coordinators is to "plan meetings,
arrange for speakers and serve as moderators at the group's
meetings and events."
The group also has a volunteer mailing list administrator,
whose role is to handle administrative and technical matters
regarding the list itself.
You can view the group's charter at
<http://wss.berkeley.edu/micronet/about.html>
and find contact info for its current coordinators and mailing list
administrator at <http://wss.berkeley.edu/micronet/contacting.html>.
- The Micronet list is unmoderated. Anyone may post to the list,
members and non-members alike. There is no screening of messages
before they are sent to the list.
- The list is governed both by governmental and university
laws and policies regarding electronic communications.
- In addition, postings to the list are expected to be germane
to the charter of the Micronet user group, and to conform
to the list's policy prohibiting outside commercial announcements
(spam).
The current Micronet mailing list policy may be viewed at
<http://wss.berkeley.edu/micronet/maillist.html>:
The Micronet mailing list is only for discussion of issues
that affect microcomputer and workstation support at the
University of California at Berkeley campus, and is not
to be used for commercial announcements by outside parties
or any other unrelated purposes.
- There are no other implicit, normative restrictions on the
content of postings to the list, regardless of what any
other member of the list might assert.
- It is expected that, on occasion, a discussion regarding
the intersection of computing related topics with
the realm of politics will crop up on the list.
If these discussions do not *directly* involve issues affecting
campus computing support, such as discussions of campus or UC-wide
political issues affecting campus computing support -- or local,
state or federal laws, policies, or regulations which have a direct
and obvious bearing on campus computing support -- I'd like to
personally encourage those involved in such discussions to quickly
take them 'off line,' to private channels. These types of
discussions are non-germane.
- The list administrator -- myself or my successor -- will
occasionally use his or her powers of persuasion to help
ensure that list discussions stay germane and are not used
for outside commercial announcements.
In the time that I've administered the list, I've tried to use
a very light and gentle hand in doing so ... with the exception of
communications to outside parties who have (on rare occasions)
'spammed' the list.
- Any other member of the list (including but not in any way limited
to current and former Micronet coordinators) may -- much like the
list's administrator -- assert, in public postings to the list
or in private communications to any other member, that
another's posting to the list may be inappropriate.
However, I'd like to encourage anyone who asserts this:
- Clearly state that it is their personal opinion which is
being expressed;
- Carefully avoid any impression that they are acting in an
administrative or moderation role so as to imply authority
over the list; and
- Refer, where appropriate, to the group's mailing list policy
and charter when making assertions about a posting's
appropriateness.
As noted by several members, in the case of disputes regarding
a posting's appropriateness, it can often be beneficial to
surface that discussion to the entire list.
Thanks,
Aron Roberts
Workstation Software Support Group
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following was automatically added to this message by the list server:
For information about Micronet, its meetings and events, and its
mailing list, including information on subscribing and unsubscribing,
see the Micronet Web site at <http://wss.berkeley.edu/micronet/>.
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