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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site myrias.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!alberta!myrias!cmt
From: cmt@myrias.UUCP (Chris Thomson)
Newsgroups: net.news,net.news.group
Subject: Moderation and censorship
Message-ID: <188@myrias.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 11-Nov-85 18:20:48 EST
Article-I.D.: myrias.188
Posted: Mon Nov 11 18:20:48 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 13-Nov-85 21:04:51 EST
References: Upon request <530@aero.ARPA>
Organization: Myrias Research, Edmonton
Lines: 21
Keywords: censor, censorship, usenet, mod.computers.ibm-pc
Xref: watmath net.news:4340 net.news.group:4487

In <530@aero.ARPA> Gary Kremin complains that Billy Brackenridge is a bad
moderator because he censors items about copy protection in INFO-IBM-PC.

I have read that list for over two years, and NEVER ONCE seen any sign of
Billy imposing his views on the readers of the list.  What I did see was an
endless stream of mania regarding copy protection (like: Don't buy this
program because it is copy protected, and: Anyone who copy-protects a
program is a gouging slimeball), which Billy finally put an end to by
refusing to forward same.  I was glad.  I wondered why it took so long.

THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF A MODERATOR IS CENSORSHIP.  That is why
moderated groups exist.  That is why I read them.

If a moderator is using a list or group as a soapbox, or is suppressing
legitimate, useful articles, then he/she should be replaced.  Failing that,
people will stop reading the list/group, and start a new one.  Moderators
are just like newspaper editors, and their biases are just as obvious.

Kremen advocates deluging Billy and others with messages asserting the
right to post anything, no matter how repetitive, silly, tasteless, or
illegal.  That is crap.  DON'T DO IT.