Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 00:07:16 -0700 From: Hans Ehrbar <ehrbar-AT-marx.econ.utah.edu> Subject: M-G: More about the new list rules The purpose of marxism-general is to allow every Marxist who has to say something to say it, without having to please any moderators, so that controversial issues could be aired, and that the moderator-imposed limits of the other marxism-lists can be overcome. This purpose is maintained under the new format; you can say a lot of controversial stuff in one post per day. The one-post-per-day limit and the size limit on posts is also designed to make this a list in which contributors exercise care when composing their messages, so that people who do not have a lot of time to read e-mail, and for whom lists like marxism-international and marxism-thaxis are simply too busy, can get their information in a reasonably short time. It was never the purpose of marxism-general to become the distribution channel of regular e-zines like Cockroach or the Unite Infos. Robert and Rolf can advertise their e-zines over marxism-news, just as several other left resources are advertised over marxism-news, and send them to their subscribers directly. The low quality of the discussion on M-G in the past is an issue on two counts. (1) It may deter newcomers from marxism altogether. (2) The lists of "marxism-space" are sponsored by the spoon collective, which has several political activist members but which is not a Marxist collective. The Spoon collective has gained a reputation for the quality of the email lists it administers, and it is hosted by Jefferson University for this reason. A list like M-G is a drag on this, which makes it more difficult for the Spooners to support marxism-space as a whole and to maintain their own support basis. If the enthusiasts for a completely unmoderated list can come up with a new provider, the spooners will gladly cooperate fully with your move. But if you stay with the spoon collective, you have to bear with our efforts to make M-G a list which is not only based on beautiful principles but which is also indeed worth reading. Hans Ehrbar, member of the spoon collective. --- from list marxism-general-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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