[HPFGU-Feedback] Re: ADMIN: Possible Threat to HPfGU lists

[IggyMcSnurd]

> Laura:
> 
> We all know that HP is susceptible to attacks from all kinds of
> closed-minded people for all kinds of spurious reasons.  If the
> American Library Association is prepared to defend the books, I
> think we should be as well.  Defending the books includes defending
> our right to discuss them fully.  If it can't be on Yahoo, we'll
> find somewhere else.  But the discussion shouldn't stop.  And
> listees shouldn't feel that we have to tiptoe around certain
> topics.  It's bad enough that enemies of these books want to crush
> discussion about them.  Let's not encourage its friends to do the
> same thing.

Iggy here:

And, if you notice, it has been suggested that the discussions don't
need to stop, but it might be better to move them to another group or
location.

I would also like to point out that these friends of the list aren't
encouraging crushing discussion about certain themes.  We are simply
trying to make people aware that such discussions could be problematic
for the group and might want to be moved elsewhere.

Some people try to be friends to the list by seeing the grander effect
of what's being discussed and the effect it could possibly have on the
group as a whole.  I believe in freedom of expression just as much as
anyone (trust me... if you only knew...).  On the other hand, if we
ignore the fact that keeping one topic type open on this list could help
get the list as a whole shut down, then we're actually doing more damage
to the group. 

If the list itself is shut down, then where will we talk about *any*
topic, much less the more controversial ones?

Arguing against censorship on one subject that a small segment of our
population is discussing, and keeping the discussions going, is one
thing.  If it's used as evidenced to have the group shut down then, in
essence, those actions have resulted in the censorship of the entire
group about any topic at all.


Iggy McSnurd