Date: Tue, 09 Nov 2004 00:02:29 -0500
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
From: Elspeth Kovar <ekovar at worldnet.att.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Watchmen
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

At 07:37 PM 11/8/04, Ted White wrote:

>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Madeleine Yeh" <myeh at wap.org>
>To: "WSFA members" <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
>Sent: Monday, November 08, 2004 4:12 PM
>Subject: [WSFA] Re: Watchmen
>
> > On Mon, 08 Nov 2004 14:18:04 -0500
> >   "Barry L. Newton" <bnewton at ashcomp.com> wrote:
> > > I felt that the thrust of that discussion was for
> > >everyone, or at least
> > > some significant number, to object to attacks when they
> > >happen,
> > >
> >    I didn't think that was such a great idea.  I could see
> > more problems starting if I started telling people that
> > their email message was short, and abrupt, or inelegant,
> > or rude and crude, or descending to the personal.  They
> > would defend themselves and a nice secondary quarrel could
> > commence, with other people participating who would not be
> > interested in the original email.
>
>I think you're exactly right.

Agreed.

I was looking into the 'rules' of the most intellectially challanging and
at the same time most civil group that I've ever been fortunate enough to
encounter.  I'd never been aware of any and it turns out that there are
very few, most of which have to do with the length of posts.  But there was
a thread with the subject "What *are* our Frequently Asked Questions?"  The
responses were made in recognition of the problems we'd run into, as well
as of the complaints that people had had.  Among them:

>Are you *trying* to offend me, or do you just have no idea what you're
>talking about?

>Why doesn't someone run it, instead of this laisez faire (sp?) attitude?
>
>Why isn't everyone on this list NICE?
>
>Why aren't there *rules* to make them be NICE?

Various people have already answered the first question as it pertains to
the WSFA list.  And as I said on Friday, I'd rewrite the first question and
expand it:

"Could I be being offensive?"

"Does this person intend offence?"

"Should I take it that way and react thus?  How useful would reacting that
way be?"

"Do they have no idea of what they're talking about?  If so, what's the
best way to respond?"