Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 04:09:00 -0400
Reply-To: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: MOD clarification re cursing and language in general
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Dear Volks,
I think I've explained myself poorly on this issue, and I
apologize. On a personal level I don't particularly give, if you'll
pardon the expression, a rat's behind whether someone else curses,
whether they intend it or not or even if they're cursing me. It's
none of my business and I have plenty to do watching what I myself
do. However, it is a serious matter to both Christians and Jews, and
many of them don't have my laissez-faire attitude and find it deeply
disturbing/distressing. Some of those people are on this list, and
some of them have expressed their gratitude about this stance. It's
not civil to disturb people unnecessarily, and that's that.
People, particularly people of different generations, have many
different attitudes about coarse language in general, and we neither
can nor will try to change them here. We have at least four
generations on this list, and both extremes have to bend, but not
enough to truly satisfy either one. I personally wouldn't mind
shifting the balance a bit toward the older folks (forgive the
generalization, I know that all attitudes exist in all generations),
but I have no intention, nor do I think Ben has any, of trying to do
that. As people more and more bring their concerns to the
moderators, instead of either remaining silent or airing them in
public, the balance will adjust itself to the list instead of the
list to the balance. As people learn to trust more and more that we
are, as I believe, fair and disinterested (not *un* interested) this
will continue to happen more and more readily, and we will become
less and less visible.
Most of what we've talked about language today has to do with
children. This list has always made special accommodation for
children, but it has gotten a bit muddied recently, so we're working
to put it back in shape.
Thank you all very much. I don't expect to be around much tomorrow
(today actually), or the next day so I apologize in advance if I'm
tardy in responding to you.
Yours,
David
ps -- There has been a bit of confusion, so to be clear: the "damn"
thread isn't closed, although I don't particularly encourage it going
further. It is only the part wishing to discuss the merits or lack
thereof of religion that is closed.
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