Hi group! Let me clarify a few things about topics for the list...
Way back when I first took over as list owner, I quickly learned that people will *ALWAYS* ask questions of the form: "What can I do for..." "Does anybody know about..." "Where can I find..." In other words, health related questions and topics that were not necessarily directly related to the main topic of Colloidal Silver. No amount of restrictions on those sorts of questions would have filtered them all out without rendering the list useless. After all, how can one even know if CS might be relevant, without first asking? Then, there are almost always people on the list who have answers to those questions, including answers that are not directly related to CS, and they ARE going to want to give them. Any attempt to censor them and force their contributions into private mail will be met with numerous requests for the same information, most of which *WILL* go through the list for the simple reason that you'll *NEVER* get everyone to be savvy and careful enough to use e-mail as skillfully as is possible. Given these *INEVITABLE* characteristics of human nature, the population of our group, and the nature of the medium, I quickly evolved certain rules for choosing topics to discuss: Certain topics are *STRONGLY* discouraged. Politics is prohibited except from brief heads-up notices of matters directly related to CS or important alternative health matters, with follow-up to be taken off-list or to our OT list. Religion, spirituality, or mysticism are prohibited since it is almost impossible to say anything on these topics that won't inflame or offend somebody. The debate over vegetarianism versus meat eating is one of these nearly "religious" topics. Like with religion, overt evangelization of either vegetarianism or meat eating is not welcome. It just should not become a topic for discussion. Nor can we demand that everyone conceal every concievable interest or attitude for fear of offending someone else. Some degree of tolerance is expected of all of us in exchange for the gross restrictions on these major controversial topics. Thus, passing mention of prohibited things, like the occasional "God Bless" or "You're in our prayers," or Wayne's mention of animal products in a smoothie, or your preference for a vegetarian lifestyle isn't out of order or "offensive," so long as it isn't confrontational or excessive. So, I expect, John P., that you will accept the notion that you share the list with people who do not believe as you do, and will extend to them the same respectfulness and freedom to choose which you expect in return. In simple terms, don't continue to hammer on vegetariansim. You're not going to convert anybody and it will interfere with your ability to interact with the group. Be yourself, and allow others to do the same. It takes effort to get along. You're all expected to make that effort. So, religion and politics are prohibited. What is allowed? Any health related question or issue may be raised and answers given, even if they don't relate to the main topic. CS related things can, of course, be discussed until the topic is exhausted. Non-CS related things OUGHT TO be discussed more briefly, so that basic curiosity can be satisfied and important resources be pointed out, then moved to the OT list, other forums, or private mail. In actual practice, topic control has tended toward a looser style, with wide-ranging alternative health related discussions allowed while waiting for questions related to CS to be asked. I'll step in occasionally to ask for topics to be retired that have gone on too long or are generating complaints. Now, that's not the only way a list can be run, but it is, effectively, how this one is working right now. As the needs and preferences of the members change, so will my moderation, within broad limits. In that interest, I ask that if you have complaints or suggestions, you direct them to me in private e-mail. I take such communications into consideration as I manage the people and discussion. If you see things deteriorating, of course, a heads-up to me is always welcome. I may have seen whatever it is already, but sometimes not. I do have to spend some time away from the computer, it seems. <grin> My e-mail address, plus the web site address for the list rules and instructions are always in the footer at the bottom of every message from the list. Please study the web site if you have any question about the rules and how the list is intended to work, or ask me. Thank you, everyone. Be well, Mike Devour silver-list owner [Mike Devour, Citizen, Patriot, Libertarian] [mdev...@eskimo.com ] [Speaking only for myself... ] -- The Silver List is a moderated forum for discussing Colloidal Silver. Instructions for unsubscribing are posted at: http://silverlist.org To post, address your message to: silver-list@eskimo.com Address Off-Topic messages to: silver-off-topic-l...@eskimo.com The Silver List and Off Topic List archives are currently down... List maintainer: Mike Devour <mdev...@eskimo.com>
