Date: Mon, 14 Oct 1996 10:55:35 -0400 () From: bashi Reply-To: bashi To: PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK Subject: Re: Limiting Excessive Postings X-X-Sender: bashi@psci.sas.upenn.edu Dear PSNers, I want to say to Don Roper and T.R. Young that I really appreciated their comments. I just have a couple of observations I'd like to bring out to the list. (1) Early on in the self-moderation discussion, I heard complaints that many people are subscribed to lists which post more frequently than PSN, so, in essence, "What's the big deal?" Well, I subscribe to one list which posts nearly as much as PSN, and other lists which post much less frequently than PSN, so, to me, the volume of mail is a very big deal. Plus, I've now been on for over an HOUR, just looking at my email. (And this is the only message I sent out, so no, I haven't been reading personal mail today.) I don't know who has that kind of time every day, but I really can't afford it! (2) In response to arguments like (1), I have heard complaints that the delete key is available to all. This is true, but I am one uses it so often, without even opening PSN mail (especially when it comes from the most frequent posters), that I almost became one of those who unsubscribed. I think deleting everything without reading it is an unfortunate but necessary response, but possibly preventable with a different kind of moderating system. (3) I think that to limit frequency (which I would call "to moderate") is very different from "to examine in order to supress or delete anything considered objectionable" (my dictionary's definition of "to censor"). So, I disagree with those who call the moderators' proposal "censorship." I also do not think that the moderators' intentions were ever to censor--especially since the PSN-cafe option exists with unlimited access. (4) I thank the moderators for explaining the PSN-cafe option. I agree with Don: if the -cafe exists, why is there a problem with limiting the frequency of any one person's submissions to PSN? That is something to think about. (5) I was somewhat intrigued by the menu option offered by MW. I wouldn't mind seeing that used in conjunction with the limits on posting frequency. I enjoy many of the postings on PSN. I am glad I remained a subscriber long enough to hear this issue being discussed. I am also glad to hear that the moderators are working so hard to keep the list lively and keep the subscribers they have. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Vilna Bashi Postdoctoral Fellow Population Studies Center University of Pennsylvania bashi@pop.upenn.edu 215 898 9633