Date:         Wed, 30 Aug 2000 10:53:33 -0600
Reply-To:     jbrush@WWW.AROS.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         jbrush@WWW.AROS.NET
Subject:      end the guns thread, please
Content-Type: text/plain

>Hi Tom...thanks for the reminder about gun
>content..
>communicated on an individual basis. Thanks for your
>even handed
>administration of these procedings   Lee

I not much of a contributer, but I feel like a part of
the community and I want to express my dismay at
messages like this. This is Tom's list, and I will fight
to the death his right to include or exclude any subject
that he (or the group) sees fit.

However, I cannot sit here and read a message that calls
the handling of the firearms issue 'even handed.' It is
censorship. Its okay because its a private list, please
don't anyone get me wrong, but it is not 'even handed.'

The rationale that it is non-vanagon and therefore is
not allowed, is not valid as there is a thread going
around now about cooking, which is no more vangon
related than the 'g' word. (some of us cook, some of us
hunt)There is always an amount of OT banter in any
group.

As I said, its up to Tom, he has spoken, and I
respect that, but I think its important as grownups
and contributors to society to realize that the 'g' word
is forbiden not because its non-vangon, but because
people are too immature to handle it. I think that
distinction matters a great deal.

I wrote a whole bunch more and have decided to delete as
I don't want to prolong this, but its time folks started
taking some accountability for their own actions, and
calling censorship even handed is just going a bit too
far.

One more time I emphasize that Tom can censor anything
he chooses and I don't disagree with that authority, or
his right to censor subjects, but I do take issue with
calling that censorship "even handed" when it is not.

My regrets to all who disagree, but the last time I
looked, we were all in favor of freedom of expression.

Kind Regards,

John