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Re: Moderator

Drew wrote:


 >I don't think so.  Calmer heads tend to prevail eventually.  It simply
 >comes down to a willingness to wait out the storms of frustrating
 >argument.  Argument can be wonderful, but like so many things, tends 
to >be
 >unfulfilling over the Internet...


Barry wrote:

 >I understand all that is going on, and that being said, I don't like 
 >change. It is easy enough for me to sign up for the discussion board, 
 >but I >like everything tied up in a neat little ball (or a messy 
tangle >of string).  I think that some new listies will miss out on the 
GREAT >insights of others if we move to another board for non-OTR talk. 
  I >mean, I actually like to think and this list has helped me think 
some >things out and changed positions on things I had thought I had 
once >thought out.  Anyway, as always, I will adapt as best I can.  I 
hope I >didn't come off sounding like an ass, but I'm frustrated for 
both sides >of the issue just not thinking before they write
 >"Raghead", or "Ignorant".......


I would just remind you both that there is more at stake here than our 
comfort with either the content or the e-location of the discussions. 
Specifically:

Linford wrote:

 >The discussion list was intended to be a wide open forum for the 
 >discussion of Over the Rhine's music. It's not moderated, and we may 
 >move to a different format in coming months. Much of the tone and 
 >content of the discussion list is not all that relevant to what Over 
 >the Rhine is about (according to the great majority of our fans), but 
 >there have been some great moments, however few and far between. The 
 >band has always taken a hands off approach with the list, but I guess 
 >if someone wishes to use that pallette to express sentiments that are 
a >blatant effront to the spirit of Over the Rhine and the community 
we've >tried to bring together over the years, they'll probably hear 
from us >sooner or later. Maybe we've been silent too long. Enough said.

See, there is an issue of OTR's public face, what Linford called its' 
"spirit." Becuase the list is officially connected to the band (it's 
advertised on their site) *they* get flack when we get pigheaded or 
out-and-out immature. While *we* get to "ride out" hot debates, they 
have to do PR work about what we're typing.

Quoth Linford:

 >In response to those who wrote us directly, those of us associated 
with >Over the Rhine were outraged and embarrassed to be associated in 
some >way with his comments which we found to be ill-timed and frankly, 
 >sickening.


I think that Linford, being the careful craftsman he is, picked his 
words with purpose. Chris's comment caused "outrage" and "embarrasment." 
  That's no small thing. Above he notes that

 >Much of the tone and content of the discussion list is not all that 
 >relevant to what Over the Rhine is about (according to the great 
 >majority of our fans), but there have been some great moments, however 
 >few and far between.


Think about that: *most* of what gets said here runs, according the the 
big L, counter to "what Over the Rhine is about."

Now, we can either all be quiet, or we those of us who like emailing 
non-OTR content can move that content to another list, one that won't 
hamr the band.

Obviously if no one wants to move, we won't. But I don't think that'll 
solve what the band seems to see as a serious problem.



-John

-- 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In the electoral campaign, President Bush named as the most important 
person in his life Jesus Christ. Now he has a unique chance to prove 
that he meant it seriously: for him, as for all Americans today, "Love 
thy neighbor!" means "Love the Muslims!" OR IT MEANS NOTHING AT ALL.

  -  Slavoj Zizek, "Welcome To The Desert Of The Real II: Reflections on 
WTC"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

http://www.johnpauldavis.org

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