A Modest Proposal (NOTICE FROM THE LIST HOST) - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

22 Aug 2001

It would be a shame to impose the burden of moderation, especially when you 
could probably remove 95% of the noise on the list with a few simple steps:

1) Ban discussion of eBay.  Much like deciding who was the best athlete of 
all time, continued arguing is unlikely to change anyones opinion. ;-) 

2) Remove our friendly (sic) neighborhood troll from the list.  I don't 
think I need to name names, or initials for that matter. 

It has to be a troll.  He has produced a remarkably consistent stream of 
unabashed ignorance, xenophobia, condescension, and complete contempt for 
anyone who has the audacity to hold a dissenting opinion, no matter how well 
founded, supported or sane the dissention might be.  Such people are usually 
only found on lists devoted to abortion or gun control or similar 
wastelands.  Clearly, this is someone getting their jollies from the 
negative reactions of others, like a flasher. 

He's had his fun.  It's time to get back to computers. 

3) Remind anyone else who decides to drag the list through their own 
intellectual cesspool, that trolling and personal vendettas are not what the 
list is for.  There are plenty of other platforms if you need to grandstand. 

4) Counsel the small handful of folks lacking the maturity to ignore the 
kind of chum the above (and, vastly less often, others) spills on the list 
that unless they curb their predilection for knee-jerk responses to any and 
all real or perceived insult, that they, too, can be removed. 

5) Gently remind those who go off in the weeds to wander back to the herd.  
The vast majority will take the hint. 

That's just my opinion...I could be wrong... 

Ken 