--- In mwmDiscussion@yahoogroups.com, Paul Harwood <paulh@w...> wrote:
> On Tue, 02 Dec 2003 21:49:54 -0000, you wrote:
>
> >--- In mwmDiscussion@yahoogroups.com, Paul Harwood <paulh@w...>
> >wrote:
> >> [...] overdue review of charter [...]
> >
> >Yes, should be done. Process for doing it is ... what?
>
> Good question. I think we're inventing it as we go. IIRC, the mod
> policy just says that the mod policy should be reviewed annually.
> Presumably, the review would consist of a discussion like this
> one, followed by a vote on amending the mod policy in some way or
> another.
>
> >Gak. You're opening it up to become just like MW.
>
> Oh, I dunno. I think there's plenty of room between "topics of
> interest to a writer" and "just like mw". Remember that the
> charter is clear about the need for a) common courtesy and b) a
> focus on writing in some way or another. What I'm proposing is
> that the moderators step back somewhat and give the mwm'ers a
> little room to breathe. I think it's a long, long way from there
> to interminable political debates, pun cascades, and flame wars.

Each of those things can be "of interest to writers." Who decides what
is or is not *acceptably* "of interest to writers?" Will that person
or committee create a list of those acceptable topics?

> >You'd have to be rilly rilly careful about defining what would be
> >valid as "of interest to writers"
>
> <snip>
>
> Oh, I agree. It was no accident that I chose the wording that I
> did. I wanted people to start giving some thought to ways in
> which the mod policy might be loosened without losing the intent
> of mwm.

You're attacking this from the wrong end. If you want looser
moderation, they you must loosen the charter. You can't say, "These
are the rules, but now we're not exactly going to enforce them." No
sense having rules if you're only going to sorta enforce them. Once
you loosen the charter, you move toward mw, which already exists. And,
using your carefully chosen wording as a guideline, the leap ain't as
far as you seem to think it is.

> >> My goal is to give people some breathing space, to encourage
> >> discussion, and maybe breathe a little life into the group.
> >
> >I think it's way too open-ended as you've proposed it.
>
> Let's see how the discussion goes. I'm hoping that some of the
> mwm lurkers might come out of the woodwork. All two or three of
> them.

Well, I'm one lurker. The other two can speak for themselves.

--
Stan