Meta-P-List ramble

[rzamsky at acsu.buffalo.edu]

As a lurker on this list, I am somewhat hesitant to get into the debate over
whether or not this list should be moderated. But, what the hell.

For years, I participated in the Poetics List run through the Poetics
Program at SUNY-Buffalo.  It was open and one of the best lists I've ever
seen.  Then it devolved, rapidly.  Eventually, major contributors left the
list in hordes, and the list owner, Charles Bernstein, decided he had to
step in and make it a moderated list, for its own sake.  As with what many
have mentioned on this list, that moderation basically consisted of nothing
more than reminding people to keep discussions to the point, and booting one
(I think only one) person who persistently and stubbornly violated the
list's guidelines by posting under multiple names and engaging in long
winded, hostile, and irrational personal attacks on list-members.  The list
is now once again great, and most of those who left have returned to find
spirited, intellectual debate/discussion.

Charles is certainly no less committed to operating against conventional
modes of control than TP or any of us on this list are, and I don't think
moderating a list is some kind of sell-out.  I know he thought very
carefully about altering the mode of the list and was VERY reluctant to do
so.  At this point, it seems to have been the right choice.  Those who most
strongly defended the non-moderated list were frequently those most deeply
involved in stupid flame wars and have now taken those wars elsewhere. 
Those who care about the material remained or returned.

I used to love this list for its vigorous debate and rigorous thinking. 
Lately, it's just silly personal crap that has nothing to do with anything. 
It is not interesting or part of the groovy dynamic of the electronic-list
or anything else.  It's a playground pissing contest.

my .02,
rz