Text 3280, 91 rader
Skriven 2007-06-26 13:21:00 av Jeff Smith (1:14/5)
   Kommentar till text 3227 av Björn Forsström (2:203/614.61)
Ärende: Nipple slip
===================
Hello Björn.

25 Jun 07 16:56, you wrote to me:

 BF>>>    I'm quite capable of keeping my different roles apart. Are
 BF>>> you?

 JS>>        Then why not SHOW us that capability Björn?

 BF> And how do you want him to show it?
 BF> By only shutting up?

     Firstly this echo is not for you, me, or the moderator to express
their personal views and biases. As I understand it the purpose of this
echo is to discuss Fidonews topics and related subjects. I am not sayiny
that Felten or the moderator should not have personal views or should
not be allowed to express those views. What I am saying is that they
are not relevant to the purpose of this echo. What relevance does the
fact that Felten might (dis)like or love/hate a certain group of people
have on Fidonews? What relevance is there for people (Including the
moderator) to see who can insult others the most? There are plenty of
forums available for Felten to express his personal views. This echo is
not his personal platform to vent his personal beliefs on what is wrong
with the world any more than it is for you or I. Hypothetically, if you
were the moderator here and you openly expressed your personal views on
how you disliked people of a particular country, or a particlar religion.
How could you not think that that expression would not negatively affect
your effectiveness as moderator?

 JS>>>> Instead of making statements...

 BF>>>    In other words you want to limit my freedom of speech? Isn't
 BF>>> that the same as censorship? Figures...

 JS>>      Read my posts Björn. I have mentioned your right of your
 JS>> opinion many times. Isn't it suprizing how you just happened to
 JS>> miss those posts?

 BF> And how many times have we explained to you that we don't hate
 BF> Americans? Isn't it surprizing how you just happend to miss those
 BF> posts?

     Then at best the posts are contradictory.

 JS>> I am not trying to limit your freedom of speech as you well know.

 BF> Then, what exactly are you trying to do?

 JS>> What I
 JS>> am saying is that IF you had much of any respect for your
 JS>> position as Fidonews editor or as a Fidonews moderator. You would
 JS>> limit your OWN expression of your opinions and your personal
 JS>> biases. This echo and the Fidonews are NOT your personal tools to
 JS>> use to express your personal hate and dislike of people, their
 JS>> countries, or their way of life.

 BF> If you want, you are free to discuss our country, our way of life etc.
 BF> and I don't think that anyone of us would mind but being an American
 BF> I've never seen anyone being interested in doing so.

     If I were to discuss your or anyone's country I would try to do
so without being needlessly insulting. My opinions are only that and as
such are no better or worse than anyone else's. The way that I see things
Björn is that there are good and bad in all countries. There are things
that can be critisized and applauded in almost every country that one can
mention. I think that there are a handful of countries that are probably
far more likely to be the center of discussion. Either due to their diversity
or a particular religous or political belief. My view is that I try not to
judge people needlessly. I may well disagree with them but that doesn't mean
that I am qualified to judge their belief or their way as being good or bad.

     In this situation Felten is free to think and feel and like whatever
he chooses. He should always have that right. He should also have the right
and ability to express those feelings if he so chooses. The point is not
whether he should be allowed to express his personal views. The question
is whether it is wise for someone who is also a moderator to express their
personal views in the same echo that they moderate. Especially when those
personal views are likely to affect that persons ability to effectively
moderate. Moderators these days have limited resources available to them
as it is without making things needlessly harder on themselves. Felten has
a variety of forums available to him in which to express or vent his feelings
and views. I see don't his voluntary refraining of posting his beliefs and
views as a serious hinderance to his freedom of expression.

 BF> ---
 BF>  * Origin: . (2:203/614.61)

Jeff

--- GoldED+/W32-MINGW 1.1.5-b20070503
 * Origin: Twin_Cities_Metronet - region14.us (1:14/5)