File spoon-archives/marxism-general.archive/marxism-general_1998/marxism-general.9801, message 74


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.


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