Wed, 27 Jun 2007

Here they are. Nola, Ellen, and Daryl are in the middle of a five
day suspension.
George
------- Forwarded message follows -------
From: "Scott Burow"
To:
Date sent: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 21:14:49 -0500
Subject: [USGENWEB-DISCUSS] Notice RE: DISCUSS LIST

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As I mentioned in my last email, I've been contacted by Rootsweb
Senior Advisors regarding the behavior of both candidates and members
on this list. The actions over the last week and this weekend were
intolerable and an embarrassment to this project. It resulted in a
number of complaints to Rootsweb and their staff.

It was the recommendation of several at the upper levels that this
list be closed and it came very close to occurring. At least one of
the Rootsweb Senior Staff and I have intervened to keep this list
open. For all it's headaches sometimes, this list does serve a
valuable purpose.

However, keeping it open is not without cost.

First, Rootsweb (and the entities above) are no longer willing to
maintain an archive of this list, and the archives should end today.

Second, you all are being asked to police yourselves. Keep your
comments focused upon issues valid to the project, and avoid the
negative carping, fingerpointing, and bickering and keep the
backbiting to yourselves. Questions can be asked and answered without
all the extra baggage an insinuations.

It goes without saying that threats of any type, whether directly
stated or implied, are inappropriate.

Third, if you cannot police yourselves, the moderators will police
you.

These are the rules:

1. Any post that, in the opinion of the moderator(s), is
inflammatory, derogatory, demeaning, or otherwise inappropriate will
be subject to an immediate period of moderation of 5 to 10 days at
the
moderator(s) discretion. This applies to all - candidate or not.

2. There will be no warnings and there is no appeal of the
moderation.

3. Any second offense that would result in a second period of
moderation will earn that poster a 30 day ban from discuss.

4. Any third offense results in a permanent ban from the discuss
list.

5. Any post that questions or complains about a moderation that has
taken place will secure for that poster a 5 day moderation period.


These rules will be enforced. This is not a first amendment
limitation. Just like in the 'real world' you can say what you want,
but in doing so you bear the responsibility and the consequences.
These are the consequences. There are limits to free speech in the
real world, too. This is nothing more than a question of decorum.
Any member is free to post here, and free to post their opinion on
the
issues of the day.

We simply won't be doing it in the manner that some of you have
previously enjoyed. If you do not believe that you can live by these
rules, there's no discussion necessary - just a one word message to
the list of "unsubscribe" will take care of it.

The bottom line is that if you don't police yourselves, and the
moderator(s) can't maintain civility on this list - this list will
become unavailable by a decision made far and above the level of the
members, the moderators, the Advisory Board, or the NC of the
USGenWeb
Project.

This is what some of you, by your actions, have brought upon
everyone.
This is what I had to do to keep this list open and available for
discussion.

Shall we try to discuss without the fangs for a while, or just
surrender the list to anarchy and let it be closed. It's your
choice.


Scott Burow
NC - USGenWeb Project