Beckhorn Affair

[plinsenmayer at yahoo.com]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C912
From: plinsenmayer
Subject: Re: Beckhorn Affair
Reply To: [Yahoo! #899] Re: Beckhorn Affair
Date: 4/3/00 9:43 pm  (ET)

<I worry that for a bunch of people concerned that Potter books will
be banned from schools/libraries, y'all are quite willing to discuss
banning someone from a "discussion group" if he/she disagrees with your
love of the topic.

Seems a tad hypocritical. . .>

I don't think anyone was suggesting banning someone who
"disagrees." Skimmel's point was that ejection from the club is a point
of recourse in the event that someone became so vociferous, argumentative
and/or abusive that it threatened to shut the group down. I don't think
it's unrealistic to expect that someone *could* cause that sort of
trouble. Ignoring troublemakers is a good first line of defense (and by
troublemaker, I mean someone who is completely irrational and abusive
in their responses). Mr. Beckhorn did a good imitation of someone who
bordered on complete irrationality (in my mind).

I agree with Jen's comment earlier today that we should consider asking
the founder to change the description so as to make it clear that the
intended participants of this group are *fans* of the HP books. That
seems like an excellent idea!

Penny