Civility, fairness, respect, and mature dialog

[Guest guest]

Want to preface this with two quotes people've used recently that I

like a lot and contain a profound truth:

 

" Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions;

but those who kindly reprove thy faults. "

~ Socrates, philosopher (469?-399 BCE)

 

and

 

" Sometimes a fool makes a good suggestion. "

~ Nicolas Boileau

 

I couldn't help noticing that my last two communications did not post

straight to the board, which bafflingly suggested to me that Troll

placed me on moderation. I'd like to suggest we need to prove our

non-dysfunctionality by being capable of a short open dialog.

 

How did that come about? A few posts back I politely stated my belief

that people's reactions to another person's question was " unfair. "

Troll then jumped all over me and suggested the word " unfair " was

inflammatory. I thought that seemed a little odd since the person who

imho had reacted unfairly was unapologetically using words like

" bigot " , and someone else subsequently suggested calling meatheads

(which most of us once were) " soulless pigs " was a good first reaction

and asked " doesn't 'minister'= big mouth? "

 

But I figured even a mature discussion of how we communicate would be

unwelcome, so I let it slide and continued to post things like

friendly welcomes and what not. So imagine my surprise when a few

harmless and unrelated posts later I discover the moderation thing.

 

It's NOT like I violated Troll's condition, it's NOT like I said

anything offensive. To be blunt, after the fact like that, it felt

much more, correctly or otherwise, like an act of petty personal

spite. I moderate another group myself, and while I've had to do

occasional deletes, I at least honor honest and civil differences of

opinion, -- and I've never moderated or banned anyone without warning.

 

So, PT, does there exist room here for civil disagreement with even a

moderator? Was respecting your request so heinous an offense? Are we

capable of straight talk among ourselves, or is vegetarianism

condemned to be an intolerant and self-fracturing utopianism?

 

Ironically, the only other time this happened to me was on a board

where I defended a provocative PETA billboard. The reaction I

encountered was, if I was a vegan, that proved I was a dangerous

animal-loving people-hating bomb-detonating violent radical who can't

be trusted to be posted. Never mind how flawlessly respectful I was

toward others, the risk of any dissent regarding PETA was not to be

risked. I almost left, but I think I finally shamed the guy, in the

course of my dialog, to realize he was not precisely on-base.

 

I don't suppose you'd find it in you to consider admitting you

overreacted or apologizing? I'll be happy to leave if that makes you

feel better about me; I might miss the board a little, but I've seen

this kind of " guilty till proven innocent " stuff before, it tends to

leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and it's not like I can't use the time

for other things.

 

But at least then consider letting this post, in the name of glasnost

or something, stand for consideration.

[Guest guest]

Yes, I did place you on moderation after my last post to you.

I was in a rather bad frame of mind at the time, and in

retrospect I am sorry I did that. I am human, not a Troll,

aside from my enjoyment of those mythical creatures and

my choice of usernames. Please call me PT or feral, as

everyone else does here. Also, please accept my apology

for any unfairness you have felt that was directed towards you.

I do make mistakes, and openly admit them when they are

presented to me.

 

I am this list's owner and moderator, along with Shawn

(matrixeno). I will still do that job as I see fit. I will

moderate posts or place people who I have asked to settle

down on certain topics on moderation mode when I feel

it is required. I will no doubt make mistakes in my

judgement in the future as well. It is a part of my

humanity that such mistakes are inevitable.

I am approachable, and as many here will attest, I reply to

all offlist communications and disagreements with how

I do things here in a polite and thoughtful manner.

 

I try to keep the feel of this list lighthearted, jovial, friendly,

and encouraging in general. I don't do things out of " petty spite " .

I would have to know you to harbor any reaction of that sort

towards you personally, and I do not.

 

I must say though, that I do find you thus far to be a bit

" high-strung " ... and I drew this conclusion from several posts,

not just this one. But that is just my opinion, and I can see how

you are also forming a confused image of who I am from my

posts as well. I would suggest that you and I start off fresh again.

Deal? As a hint, when reading my posts, know that I am most

often relaxed and smiling; sometimes laughing when I make

them. I have a gentle spirit that only wants the best for

the members here, no matter what their present path

may be. I don't get any financial gain from managing this

list but I do get alot of encouragement, joy, and a sense that

maybe it is helping others like myself learn and grow as

vegetarians. That is why we are here, and why I formed

this list.

Namaste

 

~ PT ~

 

The plow must go five times over the site of a wood

before it can become a field.

~ traditional Welsh saying.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~~~~>

, " radcsusa " <radcsusa@n...>

wrote:

 

> I couldn't help noticing that my last two communications did not

post

> straight to the board, which bafflingly suggested to me that Troll

> placed me on moderation. I'd like to suggest we need to prove our

> non-dysfunctionality by being capable of a short open dialog.

[Guest guest]

Deal; thank you for your reply and work to maintain the board.

 

 

, " ~ PT ~ "

<patchouli_troll> wrote:

> Yes, I did place you on moderation after my last post to you.

> I was in a rather bad frame of mind at the time, and in

> retrospect I am sorry I did that. I am human, not a Troll,

> aside from my enjoyment of those mythical creatures and

> my choice of usernames. Please call me PT or feral, as

> everyone else does here. Also, please accept my apology

> for any unfairness you have felt that was directed towards you.

> I do make mistakes, and openly admit them when they are

> presented to me.

>

> I am this list's owner and moderator, along with Shawn

> (matrixeno). I will still do that job as I see fit. I will

> moderate posts or place people who I have asked to settle

> down on certain topics on moderation mode when I feel

> it is required. I will no doubt make mistakes in my

> judgement in the future as well. It is a part of my

> humanity that such mistakes are inevitable.

> I am approachable, and as many here will attest, I reply to

> all offlist communications and disagreements with how

> I do things here in a polite and thoughtful manner.

>

> I try to keep the feel of this list lighthearted, jovial, friendly,

> and encouraging in general. I don't do things out of " petty spite " .

> I would have to know you to harbor any reaction of that sort

> towards you personally, and I do not.

>

> I must say though, that I do find you thus far to be a bit

> " high-strung " ... and I drew this conclusion from several posts,

> not just this one. But that is just my opinion, and I can see how

> you are also forming a confused image of who I am from my

> posts as well. I would suggest that you and I start off fresh again.

> Deal? As a hint, when reading my posts, know that I am most

> often relaxed and smiling; sometimes laughing when I make

> them. I have a gentle spirit that only wants the best for

> the members here, no matter what their present path

> may be. I don't get any financial gain from managing this

> list but I do get alot of encouragement, joy, and a sense that

> maybe it is helping others like myself learn and grow as

> vegetarians. That is why we are here, and why I formed

> this list.

> Namaste

>

> ~ PT ~

>

> The plow must go five times over the site of a wood

> before it can become a field.

> ~ traditional Welsh saying.

> ~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~~~~>

> , " radcsusa " <radcsusa@n...>

> wrote:

>

> > I couldn't help noticing that my last two communications did not

> post

> > straight to the board, which bafflingly suggested to me that Troll

> > placed me on moderation. I'd like to suggest we need to prove our

> > non-dysfunctionality by being capable of a short open dialog.