[DMCForum] Posting FROM Marc Levy about Moderation

[Kevin Abato <delorean@xxxxxxxxx>]

All:  I am forwarding this message on behalf of Marc Levy due to the fact
that he can no longer post here without moderation (see message below for
details on why).  I personally do not follow the forums closely and the
facts, topics, and views in the following message are Marc's and not my own.

 
 
<Snip ---  FROM MARC --- Snip>
 
> Forum Members:
>
> What has Walt's "Freedom of speech" forum become?
>
> Please read this entire message.  I know it is long
> winded.
>
> Most of us here joined an UN-MODERATED mailing list
> for DeLorean owners and enthusiasts.  Things were
> going well until Walt made a critical mistake.  He
> entrusted Greg with the power of "ownership" in the
> list.  This mistake later resulted in Greg removing
> Walt as a member, and action which was never
> discussed
> with Walt.  Greg essentially "took over" the list on
> his own.  Walt wrote to me about this and said
> "looks
> like Greg has fucked me too".
>
> No one much noticed, or cared.  Walt was not
> participating much in the list, and Greg continued
> to
> run things the way they had always been...  Until
> one
> day he decided we were loosing too many members (in
> HIS opinion) when the list got on to a non-DeLorean
> topic.  Specifically, Politics and Religion.  What
> to
> do?  September 15. 2005 he created 2 polls asking
> the
> members their opinion on allowing politics and
> religion on the forum.  The polls can be found at:
>
>
 <http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/DMCForum/surveys?id=1335588>
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/DMCForum/surveys?id=1335588
>
>
 <http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/DMCForum/surveys?id=1335590>
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/DMCForum/surveys?id=1335590
>
> I, Being a moderator of the list, was vocal against
> any censorship or rules that limited free speech.
>
> As all of this was happening, Greg decided to make
> Ryan a moderator.  Seemed like a good choice, being
> that they tended to be on the "same side" of most of
> our discussions.
>
> So, the vote is called based on Ryan's
> interpretation:
>  We will not allow politics and religion, and he
> came
> up with a set of "rules".
>
>
 <http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/DMCForum/message/30562>
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/DMCForum/message/30562
>
> Shortly after, I was banned for having a discussion
> ABOUT the rules.  There was no discussion of
> religion
> or politics, but as soon as I publicly disagreed
> with
> Ryan and Greg I was booted off. 
>
>
> I reluctantly returned to the Forum, through much
> persuasion of other members. 
>
> So, a few months later here we go again!
>
> Ryan is not happy with simply ruling the DMC Forum,
> He
> wants to rule all internet communications about
> DeLoreans.  So much so, that he HAS abused his
> current
> power to again censor the outspoken (in this case,
> me).  Without warning, he removed my ability to post
> to the list.
>
> My "rule braking" message can be found here:
>
>
 <http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/DMCForum/message/34107>
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/DMCForum/message/34107
>
> I am not sure where in that message there is
> discussion of religion, or politics.  But, does it
> matter?
>
> More importantly, why did Ryan not follow his OWN
> RULES:
>
> "...
>
> Discussions that the moderators deem inappropriate
> will be handled as
> follows:
>
> 1. A public warning will be posted in the relevant
> thread.
> 2. Members who ignore the warning may be subject to
> a
> brief revocation of posting privileges.
> 3. Continued violations will be handled on a case by
> case basis.
> 4. In the interest of full disclosure, moderator
> actions will be posted to the list.
>
> ..."
>
>
> No "public warning" was posted on this matter.
>
> Since there was no warning, there was none to
> ignore,
> therefore this action is against established policy.
>
> **** The actions taken by Ryan have not been posted
> to
> the list, "In the interest of full disclosure".  Why
> should he?  He is simply using his power to silence
> me. 
>
> So, now that you all know what is going on...
>
> Frankly, I can just go away again.  The mailing list
> is just a form of entertainment.  It is not critical
> or even necessary.  The point of me taking the time
> to
> write this is so there is a record of what went
> on...
> And if at any point in the future someone considers
> moving to any forum run by Ryan, they know who they
> are dealing with.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



 
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