rws@cbnewsh.ATT.COM (r.w.stubblefield) (02/18/90)
[This is one of two votes occurring simultaneously for a group along
the same subject line. The other one is in the talk hierarchy.
-eliot]
This is the second CALL FOR VOTES for the sci.philosophy.objectivism
newsgroup, which is to be unmoderated. A MASS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of
votes received so far will be sent to news.groups.
If you are in favor of this group and charter (as defined below),
send me mail including the line of text:
YES for sci.philosophy.objectivism as proposed.
If you are opposed to the existence of this group with this charter,
send me mail including the line of text:
NO for sci.philosophy.objectivism as proposed.
Please include your complete name in either the header or body of
the message to facilitate vote checking.
I receive mail addressed to r.w.stubblefield@att.com,
bobs@houxa.att.com,
or att!houxa!bobs.
Because of the recent troubles with att gateways, the vote will run
for 28 days from 2/7. Votes received after 3/7/90 will not be counted.
====================================================================
1. The Name--SPO
Sci--because of the approach participants should use when
contributing to this newsgroup. What is scientific about it is
that conclusions should be drawn by reasoning based on observations of
reality. Neither "Ayn Rand says so" nor "I just feel it's so" should
be used as a premise for a conclusion.
Philosophy--because fundamental principles, at the base of all
other human knowledge, will be the content. All five branches
of philosophy will be discussed.
Objectivism--because most participants will be people who
have already grasped the fact that Ayn Rand has identified a set of
fundamental principles that integrate to make a philosophy. Most
contributors should have actually read the relevant works by Ayn Rand
before making any lengthy comments on a topic. Posters who question
her conclusions are NOT excluded. Rational, reality-based, logical
opponents asking specific questions are welcome.
2. Charter
sci.philosophy.objectivism for those who grasp that philosophy is
a science and are interested in studying Ayn Rand's philosophy
of Objectivism. The primary content is intended to be
reasoned analysis of philosophic principles (and their
applications) based on facts of reality.
This current posting (in total) comprises a longer explanation of the
charter. Note that the word "primarily" allows the contributions
of announcements, publications, classes, club meetings and such as
long as they are interesting to people studying Objectivism. It also
allows the derivative use by honest, polite, serious folks who are not
studying it but may want to learn more about Objectivism.
3. Quality
Several things will help SPO achieve the quality its founders desire.
a) The precise wording of the charter above should be used in Gene
Spafford's list of newsgroups.
b) This notice will be posted monthly.
c) Guidelines that rational people should follow to attenuate noise
of irrational posters will be posted periodically.
d) Style guidelines arrived at within the newsgroup will be
posted periodically.
e) Guidelines for expressing disagreement will be posted periodically.
f) The only action needed by system administrators should be to
prevent the only way someone can initiate (indirect) force; i.e.,
they need to remove USENET privileges of those who fraudently
associate their words with the signatures of others.
DISCLAIMER: the intent of this group is not to represent Objectivism
but to provide a forum for studying it.
RWS 2/17/90
--
Bob Stubblefield att!houxa!bobs 201-949-2846
r.w.stubblefield@ATT.COM