Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!apple!agate!usenet From: gsmith@garnet.berkeley.edu (Gene W. Smith) Newsgroups: news.groups Subject: Re: CALL FOR DISCUSSION: sci.psycoloquy.moderated Keywords: psychology, scholrly-discussion, Bitnet-Psychology-Newsletter Message-ID: <1990Jan21.072353.17735@agate.berkeley.edu> Date: 21 Jan 90 07:23:53 GMT References: <13106@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> <1990Jan20.071352.26759@agate.berkeley.edu> Sender: usenet@agate.berkeley.edu (USENET Administrator;;;;ZU44) Reply-To: gsmith@garnet.berkeley.edu (Gene W. Smith) Organization: Garnet Gang Gems of Wisdom, Inc. Lines: 32 In-reply-to: peter@ficc.uu.net (Peter da Silva) In article , peter@ficc (Peter da Silva) writes: >[ Gene thinks the proposed moderator is likely to be a problem because he > has irrational responses to scatological language. ] >Well, Gene, how many four-letter-words typically show up in postings to >moderated groups? Inappropriate affect in this somewhat restricted area is >unlikely to be a problem. My point is that Harnad's reaction to Michael Ellis' use of words such as "fecal" was so excessive and, so to speak, anal-retentive that I wonder if he is up to the job of moderation. His prose style is always stuffy and prolix, as if he were writing a journal article whose editors enforced a high boredom content. A natural or vigorous style would be, I suspect, anathema. This is based in part on the *fact* that he accused Mr. Ellis of being mentally unbalanced because of his use of words like "fecal". Of course, I have a personal grudge which I should be up-front about. Harnad's writing to the sysadmin here at Berkeley, complaining that insane street people were posting from Berkeley accounts, led to me having to convince people that no, I wasn't breaking into other people's accounts nor forging letters, despite whatever it was Harnad was saying. His behavior was irresponsible, libelous and contrary to the spirit and best interests of the net. I do *not* think he should be allowed to moderate a newsgroup. -- ucbvax!garnet!gsmith Gene Ward Smith/Brahms Gang/Berkeley CA 94720 Fifty flippant frogs / Walked by on flippered feet And with their slime they made the time / Unnaturally fleet.