Re: moderators, academic freedom, and all that



Kim wrote:

<snip>

My main question is: do you, the posters on this forum, believe that the discussions should be "regulated" by moderators? 

No.

What are your arguments for or against such control from above? 

First, there already is a moderated math group on usenet.

Second, while I agree that the signal-to-noise ratio is regrettably
low here, I stick around because (1) it's easy to ignore the threads
on topics that don't interest me, (2) some of the crank-originated
threads are amusing enough for me to stick with and even respond to
from time to time, (3) there is still enough solid mathematics to keep
me interested, (4) I get a kick out of helping the occasional
honestly needy person, and (5) I've been here long enough to know
and like a lot of the posters.

I do not ask this because I want to limit anyone's academic freedom, quite the contrary even; it's just that I doubt whether the exchange of foul words constitutes TRUE academic freedom.

I disagree. In fact, I strenuously disagree. If you try to censor what
I say, I'll rip off your head and take a *** down your bloody throat <toothy grin>. Seriously, though, if you believe in freedom of
expression, you have to pay the price of listening to things that
piss you off. If, on the other hand, you don't believe in freedom
of expression, then I'm afraid that nothing I could say could
convince you otherwise.

It could be a lot worse, you know. This group is far less crank-
infested than some and a heck of a lot more civilized than many.
It's usenet--lighten up and either get used to it or ignore it.

<snip>


Regards,

Rick "a professor who also 'should know better' and is proud of it"

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