<html>
<body>
At 11:44 AM 6/27/04 -0700, Robert wrote:<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Just to make sure we are all on the
same page...<br><br>
The Mirriam-Webster online dictionary defines "fascism"
as:<br><br>
1. "a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the
Fascisti)<br>
that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands
for<br>
a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader,
severe<br>
economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of
opposition"<br><br>
2. "a tendency toward actual exercise of strong autocratic or
dictatorial<br>
control"<br><br>
I would guess the best example of (1) would be Saddam and his<br>
old regime. Though there are certainly elements one could<br>
identify in places like Myanmar and perhaps even China.
Russia<br>
under communism, and especially when Stalin was in charge,<br>
would be another good example.<br><br>
Now, if Natasha or any of the other moderators were to ban<br>
specific list discussions arbitrarily it would seem to be an<br>
example of (2).</blockquote><br>
I'm not a moderator. I simply make an appearance when I get a call or an
e-mail from one or more list members who are upset because someone on the
list is being problematic or a particular thread is problematic. I
got this about Hubert's email about ExI (I did not focus on his personal
jabs at me, as it seemed over the top). However, I am very
surprised I did not get one or more about you and your postings.
Perhaps if Hubert had emailed me privately, he would have gotten a
different response and direct attention to his concerns. <br><br>
The list rules state that is anyone has an issue to let the moderators
know. They can deal with it. If not one lets the moderators
know, then it goes by unattended. If anyone emails me personally, I
take a look at the list to see what is going on. This is precisely
what happened this morning, and I responded immediately. <br><br>
Again, rather than getting pissed off and making libelous
statements on the list, email the moderators privately and they will be
helpful to you. We are here to make the list accommodating for
everyone (within reason of course). Resorting to calling ExI
fascist is just the wrong action to take and only makes the person who is
upset (Hubert) the one getting pinpointed for his wrongful comments,
rather than what he is upset about.<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>I don't think my comments would
fullfill the bill because<br>
they weren't really a "political", and certainly not a<br>
"movement" or "regime". I also was not
advocating a<br>
dictorial leader or an autocratic government. I was<br>
arguing preemptive attacks that would have significant<br>
secondary side effects on people other than those guilty<br>
of targeting Western societies.</blockquote><br>
I think that you could have prefaced your posts with a disclaimer to ExI
and your position as a Board member. Also, when anyone on this
list, whether they are affiliated with ExI or not, make personal
statements that could cause tempers to boil, they might learn from this
and openly state that these are "personal" views and not the
views of their businesses, organizations, affiliations or partners.
It is too bad that this might be necessary, because it would seem totally
rational that such be understood. But, people get upset and tempers
flare and *all of us* say things that we might say better or differently
if the conditions were more accommodating and we could see one another
face to face.<br><br>
Natasha<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<dl>
<dd><font face="Viner Hand ITC" size=4 color="#000080">Natasha
Vita-More</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times" color="#0000FF">
<dd><a href="http://www.natasha.cc/" eudora="autourl">http://www.natasha.cc</a><hr>
</font>
<dd><font face="Times New Roman, Times">President, Extropy
Institute
<a href="http://www.extropy.org/" eudora="autourl">http://www.extropy.org</a>
<dd>Founder, Transhumanist Arts & Culture
<a href="http://www.transhumanist.biz/" eudora="autourl">http://www.transhumanist.biz</a></font>
<dd><font face="Times New Roman, Times"><a href="http://www.transhuman.org/" eudora="autourl">http://www.transhuman.org</a>
</font>
</dl></body>
</html>