[Reader-list] desist from clicking 'send'

[Iram Ghufran]

Dear Nazo

Most list members do not have separate email accounts for various lists. 
If the contents of an email are " :-)  " , people feel that their co 
list member has not been fair to them.
 
I have a right to hold an opinion as a 'list member' who happens to work 
at Sarai. I am grateful to Sarai and the people who ensure the smooth 
functioning of the list so that people can discuss, converse (and accuse 
and rebuke and insult). And before I go on, let me assure you that my 
views are my own - at Sarai we are allowed to have independent opinions.

There are protocols that govern public forums and public spaces. I will 
not doubt your intelligence by trying to educate you on those. I am sure 
as a responsible citizen of a country, you would be well aware of those. 
Non moderation does not imply that the reader list becomes a forum for 
insults or worse a forum for content less emails.
The reader list space is important to us. Its is as important to Shivam 
Vij, as it is to Aarti Sethi, who may at times hold differing opinions.

It is possible, very much possible to disagree and not be unpleasant. It 
is also possible to be polite and very unpleasant.
Please continue your discussion and discard my email - just as you have 
advised me to discard any that I do not find useful.

All the best
Iram

(Co list member, with an equal share in the reader list Commons)

PS: All future conversations regarding this will happen Off list - at 
least on my part.

PPS: Its is very easy to unsubscribe from the reader list. Just drop an 
email to reader-list-owner at sarai.net





Nazneen Anand Shamsi wrote:

> Dear Iram,
>
> Thank you for your post. I wonder why are you concerned about how 
> people articulate their views. If this is a non-moderated forum for 
> discussion, then please let it be so. Personal rebukes/accusations/
>
> conversations will always be a part of any public conversations. One 
> cannot assume all those who post here will do so by implicitly 
> subscribing to an agreed upon public etiquette. Don't you think that 
> by writing periodic mails like the one below, you as a representative 
> of sarai, engage in doublespeak. Could I ask, with all due respects, 
> as to who are you, to assign an exchange as 'insulting', and how can 
> you categorize, an exchange as 'petty'.
>
> If there is a categorical database, which the list administrator 
> adheres to for archiving the list, then, don't you think that we, as 
> participants of this list are entitled to it. If there are any such 
> rules and regulations, then please share it with us. I am sure, all of 
> us, would be benefit from it. If you have no desire to witness any 
> witty comments, then, my dear, why don't you just delete all those 
> mails, like we do, instead of threatening us with your 
> assumed/imagined personal/organizational norms of decency.
>
> This issue with respect to language has come up on the list from time 
> to time. I want to take Iram's letter as an opportunity to ask to all 
> concerned, if language is such a big issue with list members, then 
> please drop this pretense of non-moderated publicness of this list. 
> Please make this list a private members only community, where, all 
> those of us who are articulate, respectful of each other may engage in 
> polite conversation.
>
> I would more than happy to be not included in this 'aap-jeenab' crowd.
>
> Best
>
> Nazo.
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Sep 23, 2008 at 6:04 PM, Iram Ghufran <iram at sarai.net 
> <mailto:iram at sarai.net>> wrote:
>
>     Dear all
>
>     The Sarai reader-list is a non- moderated forum for discussion. I
>     request you to please carry personal conversations/ accusations/
>     rebukes
>     OFF LIST.
>
>     I don't think the list administrator would want to archive for
>     eternity
>     some of the most petty insults that have been traded on this forum in
>     the last few days. I have no desire to be a witness to any witty
>     comments that people have to make in this game of one up-manship.
>     I know
>     that most people on this forum are very articulate and well read, so
>     unless anyone has something substantial to say, please restrain
>     yourself
>     from clicking 'send'. But then who will decide 'substantial'? Well, I
>     still have hope in everyones ability to gauge that!
>
>     And can we not do what the press is doing - a media trial. Not of the
>     alleged terrorists, and not of the Delhi police. Let us also bear in
>     mind as responsible citizens of the Republic (and correct me if I am
>     wrong) that the Judiciary in this country holds a person innocent,
>     until
>     proven guilty. So I request people, upholders of the Constitution to
>     please bear that in mind.
>
>     Please please spare the Inboxes of fourteen hundred people.
>     Thank you.
>     Iram
>
>
>
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