Kudos

[Carl Zager]

On Sat, 16 Sep 2000 Bob <brathke at juno.com> wrote:

> I have been trying to figure out why some lists work like this one, while
> others deteriote into mud-slinging forums.  It appears that once a few
> "bad guys" get on the list, others are encouraged to follow their
> behavior, and eventually the "good guys" depart in frustration.  Then,
> guess who's left to run the show.

Bob,

I'd welcome you to the list, but since I've only been around a little over
a year, I'll wait for the guys who really make this list "pop" with
information to officially greet you. What I'll take a crack at is your
deeper question about this list and the phenomenon of "nets," "boards,"
"groups," "chats," and "maillists." Ah, heck! Welcome to the list!

First, this is a maillist and it is actually "owned" by a person. One has
to "subscribe" and, during that process, receives from the "list-owner" a
set of instructions. The list members recognize that the list-owner has
made certain assurances to his/her Internet Service Provider (in this
case, dementia.org) about the conduct of the list and know that he/she can
be "unsubscribed" by the list-owner or that the list can be dropped by the
ISP.

Second, because one actually has to "subscribe," rather than simply
selecting from a list of thousands of "groups," "nets" or "boards" on
USENET, a proprietary "online" service, or a local BBS (bulletin board
service), maillists don't tend to attract the "quick in, quick
out" participation that is typical of the "trolls" and "sock puppets" that
you describe in following paragraphs. [A "troll" is one who dangles bait
in the group with an off-the-wall comment or question and then proceeds to
rip any and all responses, spinning the thread off in a multitude of
directions. A "sock puppet" is one who uses anonymous mailers to create
multiple personalities. Often a sock puppet will troll under one identity,
respond under another, and defend the first identity using a third.]

Having said that, maillists sometimes are invaded by trolls and sock
puppets, impacting the group negatively for a time. There are studies,
similar to that of your referenced psychologist, which suggest that there
is a cycle of activity even in monitored and/or owned lists which one just
has to live with. In my seven years learning and teaching 'Netiquette to
adults charged with teaching public school students, I've developed this
standard practice:
	Don't respond to trolls. And if you get caught (some of them are
	quite good), don't continue the discussion. Don't jump in to a
	negative discussion to defend another list member. If you feel
	the need, drop the offended member a private e-mail and suggest
	that he/she also cease responding since that only continues the
	nastiness. If you are the continuing target, sometimes you can
	copy the offending mail to the list-owner or to the ISP -- 
	abuse at domain.com.
		 

> 
> I am even aware of a commercial website that had to shut down its
> customer forum for a month last year because of abusive language by some
> users.  That forum has reopened under limited monitoring, and now
> requires a password.
> 
> And, I heard a psychologist comment that chat rooms are today's version
> of the 1960's CB radio.  Anonymity (a key word) gives some people an
> outlet to express themselves in ways that they wouldn't dare in polite
> company.
> 
> Everyone on this list uses his real name.  That information - and Alex's
> recent e-mail -remind me to post my biography.  I'll do it later today.
> 
> Bob 9/16


---
 Carl Zager						KB9RVB
 czager at bloomington.in.us         http://www.mccsc.edu/~czager