Date: 29 Mar 96 18:02:52 EST From: "Chris, London" <100423.2040-AT-compuserve.com> Subject: Re: Hans Ken wrote: >>Hi malgosia I agreed with Hans then and still do. I think the ultra-left is important if only to act as an anchor -- and, on the theoretical level, they provide the same function as any theoretical purist does. The issue at hand -- for ME -- isn't content, though. It's the frequency and excessive quoting. These are quantifiable problems. Hans seems to sense this -- but he is wrong about "asking people nicely" to limit themselves to one post a day. Bull. It doesn't work. Rather, set the rules, post them automatically every two weeks. If they break those rules, axe 'em. Then let them rejoin. Of course, since most of the people gathered now in here, and pissed off with the Maoists, post regularly, it's not in their immediate interests to support such an idea... Ken. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< I sympathise with this position. In principle "marxism" ought to be able to survive ultra-leftists as well as rightists. The timing of the marxism list is unfriendly to the established collective culture and friendly to the newcomers who can create a completely different culture on top, just among a few of them very rapidly. Rather than trying to define a "faction" it would be more neutral to have a rule about number of posts. 1 2 or 3. I would also urge now a time delay to reduce the rapid fire escalation of attacking mail, in which would be polemicists thrive. 12 hours would be quite civised enough to cool adrenalin. Only a small adjustment of rules could tip the balance against the ultra-left faction. It seems to me inherently ridiculous that the whole marxism list has to move because of an invasion of half a dozen people, and I think the least worst option is Malgosia's counterproposal. BTW I am not interesting in being moderator for any residual marxism list. But I am not giving up on that list just yet either, certainly until we can see what turns out and whether we end up with a better network of lists. Chris
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