[pct-l] OT topic/humor

[gwtmp01 at mac.com]

I marked this OT because it isn't really PCT related but more about  
mailing lists in general.

On Oct 8, 2006, at 10:32 PM, robert vance wrote:
> Of course not. Here is my problem. lately their are a couple of  
> people who have taken it upon themselves to censor what we can talk  
> about.

Criticism and/or disagreement is not censorship.  You say that others  
can simply ignore and not read political postings, which is true but  
beside the point. Those who are bothered by such criticism (right or  
wrong) can also take your advice and just ignore those postings and/ 
or authors. So your 'solution' to the problem really doesn't change  
anything.

Off-topic postings on PCT-L are hardly a big problem.  I think PCT-L  
has an excellent signal-to-noise ratio, but lists only stay that way  
if the members are dutiful in pointing out when discussions have  
strayed.  It is like tending a garden.  You'll never truly prevent  
weeds from popping up here and there but but you can't ignore the  
problem either or it may eventually become overwhelming (like my  
backyard!).

> but political speech p.c.t.related is and has always been  allowed.

Yes, of course.  I've yet to see any truly PCT related political  
commentary being prohibited or falsely labeled as 'off-topic'.  For  
the most part I think that members of this list take your advice and  
simply ignore much of the off-topic (political or not) postings.

Of course this all depends on what you think is 'PCT related  
political commentary'.  For example, some might argue that since  
global warming will lead to the end of glaciers in the Glacier Peak  
Wilderness then global warming is therefore PCT related and so are  
government policies related to global warming.

But if you accept that sort of thing as 'PCT related', well then  
pretty much *any* topic can be connected to the PCT, which suggests  
quite clearly that that particular definition of 'PCT related' is  
less than useful.

Gary Wright (Radar)