[oclug] Re: oclug traffic

[Bill Strosberg]

All:

My participation in OCLUG has been limited to reading message traffic 
for about three years.  I was once an active member and contributor to 
the group.  I quite enjoyed the varied discussions and community.

I stopped participating as the direct result of movement within the 
membership to actively police the list and begin moderating and 
censuring people for their posts.  A long time and highly respected 
contributor to the list was self-appointed as an OCLUG list constable 
and this person decided to start steering the list towards being a 
personality-free forum appropriate for providing customer support and 
guidance to College students.  Given the sterling contribution of this 
person, I conceded my participation and concept of OCLUG as a free 
community was wrong, and therefore decided to stop posting.  For those 
not interested in searching the archives, I was not a radical, nor was I 
in the habit of posting off-topic.

I don't know about anyone else, but recent events in the political forum 
have led me to review and rethink my positions on many topics.

Freedom (as in speech) is an increasingly rare and valuable commodity.  
It is easily subverted in the name of political correctness, community 
security and perceived group best interests.  The American Patriot Act 
and it's international brethren have destroyed many civil liberties once 
thought of as a critical part of Western society.  OCLUG went from free 
(as in speech) to a Bush-like democracy without real opposition from the 
membership.  Those who criticized the politically correct "new reality" 
of OCLUG were condemned as outspoken radicals and members of the lunatic 
fringe.  In my opinion, much of this condemnation was well-earned and 
appropriate, but like the Patriot Act-era of reduced civil liberties, 
many good people were silenced (most voluntarily) as well.  What was 
once a vital community became a lifeless church group of well-meaning 
Stepford Geeks.

I value freedom (as in speech).  OCLUG doesn't.  Freedom (as in speech) 
is a binary concept.  1 or 0.  As soon as you allow moderation, 
political correctness and group-think into the mix, it fails.  It 
doesn't matter how well-meaning or well-intended people are when they 
curb freedom - freedom dies.

I'll  go back to being quiet, and leave you all to think about things.

--
Bill Strosberg