Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2000 21:11:35 +0200
From: Thomas Gramstad <thomas-AT-ifi.uio.no>
Subject: Re: Invitation to Aynarchism


> Hello all,
> 
> >> > Mailing lists are, by nature and when properly tended,
> >> > anarchistic littles boogers. When you begin moderating, you
> >> > remove some of that freedom.
> >>
> >> I don't think it's that simple.  An unmoderated forum may
> >> introduce its own limitations on people's freedom, ref. what
> >> I wrote in another posting about flaming and the tyranny of
> >> structurelessness.
> 
> Good point, mat, especially since it induced brother Gramstad to reveal his
> true stripes.
> 
> [Clue Alert!]  "An unmoderated forum *MAY* introduce its own limitations..."
> 
> He reveals himself as one of those unconscious hypocrites who, finding that
> actual freedom of expression is such a messy thing, would rather *control*
> expressions of thought than take the risk involved in *allowing* it's
> unfettered expression.

Expressions of thought?  No.  Flames, poor writing, insults, off-topic,
etc. sure.

> So tell us, brother Gramstad, what is the point of talking about anarchy
> (or any other subject, for that matter, about which one is not willing to
> indulge in the messy fundamentals) if you are not willing, or are unable to
> practice it?

This assumes axiomatically, as several other posts here, that moderation
is incompatible with freedom.  An assumption frequently alleged and
rarely argued.

> Oh Dear.  Ol' Leo was full of shit anyway.  He never realized
> that humans are going to go around killing themselves,
> regardless.  All the evidence is that it's a hard-wired thing,
> and is probably an evolutionary form of population control.  And
> humans who are going to become great poets and great thinkers,
> will do so, regardless of what others may do to derail them.

Is that a fact?  How would you know?  Does will and stamina always
go with talent and sensitivity?  Aren't there too many examples of
poets and thinkers dying prematurely, sometimes by their own hand,
sometimes with good "help"?

Thomas Gramstad
thomas-AT-ifi.uio.no