James A. Donald wrote:
Timothy C. May writes
Funny, I don't recall Eric ever claiming it was "his house" to do with as he wishes. Seems to me that the list is an emergent entity, presently being centrally distributed off a machine owned by John Gilmore [...]
Internet custom and precedent, as I understand it, seems to be that Usenet newsgroups are the collective property of the regular inhabitants, but that mailing lists are the private and individual property of the guy whose account they run out of.
Even the commies on alt.politics.radical-left seem to be reluctantly and painfully accepting this doctrine. I am amazed that an ex-extropian does not. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
An issue of subtlety. I made no "commie" claims.
We can advise Eric that we think it might have an undesirable effect if he manages the list in certain ways. We cannot tell him that it is unfair or unjust to manage the list in certain ways.
I made no mention of "unfair" or "unjust." As I recall, I used the term "unwise" once or twice. Others have made similar points about compulsion and behavior control. (And we should avoid any nit-picking about how Eric cannot possibly use "compulsion" because it is his list, blah blah.)
The extropians list claimed to be managed in accord with the principles of justice. Eric makes no such grandiose claim.
This is a straw man, as I have made no mention of "justice."
I happen to think Eric is quite wrong in thinking that "behavior modification" is needed, or practical. The list has done very well for the past 26 months without rigid rules, and has never even had a person kicked off the list (who didn't ask to be removed, back in the pre-Majordomo manual processing days)).
agreed.
Good to end on agreeement. --Tim May -- .......................................................................... Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay@netcom.com | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero 408-688-5409 | knowledge, reputations, information markets, W.A.S.T.E.: Aptos, CA | black markets, collapse of governments. Higher Power: 2^859433 | Public Key: PGP and MailSafe available. Cypherpunks list: majordomo@toad.com with body message of only: subscribe cypherpunks. FAQ available at ftp.netcom.com in pub/tcmay