Date: Fri, 08 Oct 1999 09:50:21 +0100
From: Bruce Edmonds <b.edmonds@mmu.ac.uk>
To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Subject: Memetics list administrator says "Beware!"
Dear colleagues,
Once more I need to ask *all* list members to avoid all derogatory
personal remarks (***even if they are true and relevant!***).
E-mail lists have a tendancy to escalate disputes, because one is less
inhibited about being rude and the opportunity for misinterpreting
messages much greater. Therefore for this medium participants need to
be *much* more polite than is normal. This especially necessary for an
insecure bunch of academics!
The following rules may be helpful:
1. Report *anything* you think is offensive to me (quote the post or
give the URL of the web archived post). If I think it is offensive I
will stop the perpatrator from posting immediately, they can then appeal
to me. They will still be able to receive postings. When they convince
me I may let them back on (but I am not feeling very tolerant at the
moment).
2. If you are in a dispute correct matters of fact in an impersonal way
but never respond to invective (ignore it). I will not take the fact
you are responding as an excuse for rudeness. Responding with like
brings you into disrepute, if you respond politely only about facts, the
insulters will bring themselves into disrepute.
*** REMEMBER - once a discussion turns into a dispute there is NO
possibility of winning only of losing reputation ***
(the way to win is to write polite papers for JoM-EMIT and win the
argument)
Regards.
--------------------------------------------------
Bruce Edmonds,
Centre for Policy Modelling,
Manchester Metropolitan University, Aytoun Bldg.,
Aytoun St., Manchester, M1 3GH. UK.
Tel: +44 161 247 6479 Fax: +44 161 247 6802
http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/~bruce
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