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The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2002 : Issue 318
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
ADMINISTRIVIA: Copyright and Wrongs [ Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed] ]
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Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 18:21:29 -0400
From: Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: ADMINISTRIVIA: Copyright and Wrongs
Folks;
I want to quickly talk about the copyright issue and then move on to more
recent matters.
If you remember, I asked you to let me know whether or not you thought it
was a good idea to talk about the issue of copyrights again on the Digest;
this was started by a posting Martin made dealing with his valid copyrights
being infringed, but was obviously heading in the general direction of
whether _anything_ should be copyrighted, what the law means, etc., etc. I
have to admit I was a little dissapointed with the number of people who
responded (just under fifty, which is a few thousand fewer than the number of
subscribers we have), but to those who did respond, my thanks.
Folks, it wasn't even close.
The overwhelming majority do NOT want to talk about it. Some of those
didn't mind the discussion in the Digest, since they'd just skip over it, but
the consensus was pretty clear. Some people _do_ want to discuss it, and I
noted anecdotally that those who expressed that preference tend to be newer
subscribers; some of those who do not want to go through it again
specifically mentioned the repetition of the argument.
A few people suggested that we start a new list specifically for that
[removed] those who were subscribed here when Bill Pfeiffer did
exactly that some years ago, you'll remember how terribly that worked, and
how quickly that list was torn down.
One person, though, did suggest the possibility of a web-based discussion
group for discussion of this [removed] I have to admit, I rather like the
idea of using a small area on The Phorums for those few people who _do_ want
to talk about it; it would save this list from going through it yet again,
give those people who really want to talk about it a forum, and hopefully
wall it off enough that there won't be any emotional spill-over.
So if you're interested in such a thing, drop me a quick note. If more
than just a few would be interested, I'll open up a Phorum to discuss the
copyright issue.
Ok, now that _that's_ over, let me dive into the recent discussions on
whether our heroes are everything we think they are. I can't answer that
question, but I _can_ comment on the tone of the discussions. No, I _must_
comment on them.
Folks, I can understand how emotions can run high. If I enjoy listening to
a certain performer, and someone else says he was an evil man who bit the
heads off of live bats, I can understand getting bothered by it and wanting
to set the record straight. And I should, since it's important that truth be
seperated from possibly-flawed recollections, particularly when discussing
the character of this imaginary performer.
But while I have the responsibility to attack the comments, I have NO
RIGHT to attack the poster.
I've had to return an inordinate number of postings over the last few
days, not because a poster got their facts wrong (how would I know, anyway?),
but because I needed to ask the poster to rewrite without the personal
attacks on the poster of the offending message/story/whatever.
I honestly don't understand this; if someone posts an inaccuracy,
certainly it can be corrected without insulting the poster directly. EVERY
SUBSCRIBER deserves the courtesy of civility; you're welcomed to disagree
with the post without being mean to the poster.
And this should extend to private email, too. There's no reason to be
nasty to other subscribers, either publically OR privately. I have been
forwarded some REALLY nasty messages sent not to the list but in private
email to fellow subscribers. Admittedly, I can't do much about what one
person says to another in private email, but even there we all have a
_responsibility_ to be civil. I WILL enforce some civility in the public
postings; I expect everyone subscribed to self-impose politeness on
themselves when communicating with fellow subscribers privately.
(*sigh*) I've been constantly amazed when I wander around the Net how many
people do NOT know about this mailing list; it's the oldest, largest, and
best Old-Time Radio discussion group on the PLANET, and there are still so
many people who don't know we exist. I do what I can to let people know about
it, and I hope every other subscriber is "spreading the word" about the
Internet OTR Digest (if you have a website, I have graphics you can use; if
not, make sure your friends know about [removed]'t laugh, they might not!).
But we've had two new subscribers leave after a few issues recently, both
telling me pretty much the same thing, even though they used different words
- too much anger.
Another long-time subscriber wrote me telling me this list _used_ to be
fun. It should be fun NOW, even when we're discussing serious topics. We all
need to work to make SURE we're not insulting each other while we're debating
whatever it is we're debating.
I mean, after all, it's a hobby. It's SUPPOSED to be fun! Let's all
lighten up a little, and discuss things with respect and civility, whether
posting publically OR privately.
Charlie
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End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #318
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