[Oe List ...] How the list works

[Timothy Wegner]

I'd just like to remind folks how the list works. This is a long message,
but I would appreciate folks reading to the bottom.

When you post something, it goes out to the list members, and I have no
ability to retract it. Not too long ago I got a plaintive email from a list
user who regretted a post, and I had to respond that there was nothing I
could do about it. Thankfully, there was nothing too terrible (from my
point of view) about the post.

When you post, after a short time (how long depends on how busy the list
is) the post shows up in the archives. I can not edit the archives, but I
can control how visible the archives are. Just so everyone knows, for many,
many years the archives have been completely public, with the simple change
that emails have some slight obfuscation. I have also created a setting
that supposedly prevents the archives from being indexed by google. My
opinion is fully public archives serve us best, and no one has objected,
but I could change this if the consensus warranted.

So the link to the board certified anti-vax doctor is now in the archives
forever for the whole universe to see. Some of you, most notably Marshall,
wrote carefully thought out and nuanced responses to the doctor. Thankfully
Marshall did not include the original link to the doctor in his post. My
point (after stating I really appreciate Marshall's quality post) is no
amount of reason and nuance undoes viral misinformation.

I am responsible for this list, it uses my dreamhost account, and I do not
want to be part of a viral mechanism that propagates misinformation. That
said, the list is almost 100% self-managed, I am really not interested in
facilitating the discussion. My assertion about virus efficacy being
off-topic was just a list moderator's attempt to avoid further
misinformation links. Maybe it's better that we do discuss these things. I
feel a little bit bad about having undoubtedly embarrassed the original
poster. From my moderator's point of view the only real problem with the
post was the link.

My plea is to remind you that links are allowed (I could prevent them) so
be mindful to be careful what links you post. Thanks to the many of you who
emailed support to me privately.

Tim

PS You should all be outraged that Biden is allowing only one hamburger a
month in his climate policy! I have this on very good authority, the
Governor of Texas, among many other unimpeachably reliable sources!! Oh the
scandal! Here's a link ... maybe not!😀
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