[KS] Re: A disturbing trend

[Yuh Ji-Yeon]

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this is interesting news about the way the list is being moderated. if we 
are going to be moderated, shouldn't we set up some standards for 
moderation? by all means let us have an open discussion about this. perhaps 
those who have sent suggestions/complaints/kudos to moderators could start 
by airing them publicly.

i am not, by the way, in favor of moderation -- i think it is most useful 
for screening out the cyber equivalent of junk mail and perhaps for 
returning flames or superfluous comments. but here again there is the 
question of what constitutes a flame or a superfluous comment.

best,
ji-yeon

from kushibo:
>In order keep people civil, some form of moderation is necessary, but I
>must
>say with frankness and respect, as a newcomer to this list, that I think
>the
>current moderation style goes beyond keeping the list civil and
>academic,
>and goes toward sculpting the postings into the style of a handful of
>the
>list members.
>
>I have been told I post too much (I have posted twenty times in the two
>months since I joined this list -- an average of once every three days).
>One
>of the moderators told me that some of my posts are too long
>
>The types of comments attached to the posts by the moderators speak to
>this.
>I have sent a list of ideas to one of the moderators as to how I think
>this
>list would be better served if certain parameters are laid down, and
>then
>deal with those who commit offenses when (and if) they occur, rather
>than
>screening each post. I'd be happy to forward a copy of my suggestions to
>anyone, as I would appreciate feedback (I'm hoping to start a moderated
>list
>-- unrelated to this one -- in the near future).
>
>It seems to me that the moderators are hoping for things that run
>against
>the grain of a list (moderated or unmoderated, academic or
>non-academic).
>For example, I am of the impression that they want wide participation,
>yet
>low volume. The only way to reconcile these two opposing forces is by
>telling some members to keep quiet -- a clear impediment to lively
>exchange
>and discussion.
>
>If the primary impetus to moderating this list is to make it more civil,
>there are better ways than the current one to do so. If there is some
>other
>goal in mind, I believe it should be presented and openly discussed so
>as to
>reach a consensus, if at all possible.
>
> > and finally, i fail to see the connection between korean faculty and 
> students
> > desiring freedom from censorship and list moderation. have the 
> moderators or
> > members of this list forbidden certain topics? is there a politically 
> correct
> > line that members must toe? no one has made any such pronouncements -- 
> there
> > has merely been a call for more courtesy and for keeping discussions to 
> korea
> > studies-related topics. while there may be some dispute over what 
> constitutes
> > courtesy and relevance to korea studies, this call can hardly be said to be
> > censorship.
>
>Yes, some have had their posts returned with comments as to how to
>change
>them to make them appropriate. I'm not sure, though, that such should
>automatically be labeled censorship.
>
>K U S H I B O


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