[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Moderating and related topics
Cynthia Powers at cyn at metronet_com wrote:
> I've been reading Steve's comments re: moderating the list and banning
> critical comments of companies and the responses to them with
> interest for the last couple of days and have been thinking them over.
>
> First, I am unwilling to moderate the APD. While I understand the
> benefit of moderating some lists, I do not believe the APD is one of
> those lists. The APD does not exist "as a safe forum for your
> vindictive ravings because you think the cost/risk/responsability of such
> behavior on the Internet is so small", it exists as an open forum for
> aquatic gardeners to exchange information and pass on knowledge. If a
> part of that information/knowledge includes telling others about
> unsatisfactory (and satisfactory) experiences with vendors, so be it.
>
> The Communications Decency Act offers list and forum managers quite a bit
> of protection against the type of lawsuit that Bob Novak has filed; I
> don't intend to give up any of that protection by putting myself in the
> position of controlling what does and doesn't appear on the list.
> Beside a general dislike of moderation and the the lack of time to
> moderate, I am unwilling to assume the burden of trying to ascertain if
> what is being posted is "the truth" and the liability that that might
> incur.
>
> Since we've all seen the possible results of criticizing a company, I
> can't strongly enourage people to continue reporting negative experiences
> with vendors. I won't, however, try to prevent anyone from doing so.
> And I do believe that, if people are afraid to report their experiences
> because of the fear of a lawsuit or some retaliation, we are truly lost.
>
> Cynthia
> APD ListMom
Well said. I appreciate and support fully your position. Thanks again.
Dan Dixon