Re: [icann-eu] Proposal: icann-europe-full

["Alan Lenton" <alan@ibgames.com>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Williams" <jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com>
To: "Alexander Svensson" <svensson@icannchannel.de>
Cc: <icann-europe@fitug.de>
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2000 2:23 AM
Subject: Re: [icann-eu] Proposal: icann-europe-full


> Alexander and all,
>
>   Banning is a form of censorship.  CENSORSHIP in any of it's
> forms is WRONG!
>

This is complete nonsense.

The mailing list icann-eu is a voluntary association of European ICANN
@Large members who have joined together to discuss issues that jointly
affect them, and to work to resolve those issues. They, through the list's
moderator, are perfectly entitled to tell to anyone that they do not want to
work with that person - for any reason what so ever.

That isn't censorship - it's the right of any group to say who is and who
isn't a member. You can argue that the reason for excluding someone is not
valid, but it's certainly not censoring them. If we tried to have that
person excluded from the Internet, then a case could be made for it being
censorship. In this case there is absolutely nothing to stop a person who
has been told that their contributions aren't welcome from going and setting
up their own list.

I think it is perfectly reasonable for Thomas to suspend someone's access to
the list because they are posting a lot of material directly to the list
after being asked not to. It is about time that people understood that being
part of a mailing list is a privilege, not a right. As a member of a list
you do get the right to post your material. With that right goes a duty to
make sure that material is appropriate for the list and written in a polite
manner. If you don't take the duties you accepted on subscribing seriously,
then you have no right to use the list to post to.

What I do think is outrageous is trying to give Thomas with the
responsibility of running another list so that those people who
systematically violate the rules of this list can continue their personal
vendettas. If people who have been excluded want their own mailing list,
then they should go and set a list of their own up, and do their own
administration.

I write this with extreme reluctance, since it is not the central business
of this list It seems to me that this nonsense has gone on for long enough
and that we need to get back to the business in hand, which is organising
ourselves so that we have a real voice in the decisions that ICANN makes.

Alan Lenton