Pynchonlistserver: new member

[davemarc]

I hardly care about some kids reading about pederasty, prostitution,
erections, cacophagia, or anything in that vein--particularly on the list
as we've seen it thus far.  As for words like shit, fuck, cunt, cock, #$%*,
etc., I hardly think that they're potent enough to leap off the screens and
blaze dangerous engrams in the psyches of subscribers.  As we have seen,
however, the context in which any words are used can wreak havoc on the
list.

So I suggest that subscribers receive a "welcome" that spells out basic
principles of Netiquette.  Perhaps such a message could also be posted on a
monthly basis.  Having seen Jules go wild with private email out of
ignorance, and also having seen other active and presumably better-informed
participants quote private email with at least some degree of disregard for
the original senders, I think it would be reasonable to have a set of
guidelines encouraging subscribers to observe some level of decorum. 
Perhaps this would cut down on list attrition and also encourage the
participation of lurkers and quasi-lurkers who hesitate to post for fear of
mistreatment.

This has nothing to do with policing or censorship--except perhaps in
answer to the type of policing and censorship caused by extremely hostile
outbursts.  Because there's no moderator, everyone would retain the freedom
to be pugnacious, misleading, treacherous, etc. (though I have no idea why
such qualities would be necessary or even advantageous in discussions of
Pynchonalia).  I'm sure there's a way to phrase such a message a la
existing Netiquette guides so that it would foster productive and
constructive ways of using the freedom so precious to P and his ilk.

davemarc