cmt@myrias.UUCP (Chris Thomson) (11/12/85)
In <530@aero.ARPA> Gary Kremin complains that Billy Brackenridge is a bad moderator because he censors items about copy protection in INFO-IBM-PC. I have read that list for over two years, and NEVER ONCE seen any sign of Billy imposing his views on the readers of the list. What I did see was an endless stream of mania regarding copy protection (like: Don't buy this program because it is copy protected, and: Anyone who copy-protects a program is a gouging slimeball), which Billy finally put an end to by refusing to forward same. I was glad. I wondered why it took so long. THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF A MODERATOR IS CENSORSHIP. That is why moderated groups exist. That is why I read them. If a moderator is using a list or group as a soapbox, or is suppressing legitimate, useful articles, then he/she should be replaced. Failing that, people will stop reading the list/group, and start a new one. Moderators are just like newspaper editors, and their biases are just as obvious. Kremen advocates deluging Billy and others with messages asserting the right to post anything, no matter how repetitive, silly, tasteless, or illegal. That is crap. DON'T DO IT.