| The base note, which incidentally was deleted by it's author not a
moderator, was set hidden for several reasons. To begin with, it was
very inflammatory in it's tone. In the policy note, 1.0, we have said
that notes that are written with the intent to get a reaction out of
people are not welcome in this file and will be dealt with in a severe
fashion. We also go on to say that the discussion of differing
opinions is encouraged; Flaming is not. And we ask folks to please
value differences, i.e., keep in mind that others have a right to their
opinions and their reasons for holding those opinions are just as valid
(and important to them) as your reasons for holding the opinions that
you hold.
The ideas expressed in the base note of this string were presented in
an inflammatory tone, and in my opinion, a very offensive way (The fact
that all of the moderators got multiple messages complaining about that
note is proof that some folks other than the moderators found it
offensive). For those that did not see the note, it was a list of reasons
one often hears given as a reason that a cat is "gotten rid of", followed
by very charged comments that many people would like to respond with but
probably wouldn't (or at least not to the person's face). Even though
these were couched with a disclaimer of "just my two cents", it does
not remove the fact that the author of this note was invalidating the
feelings and views of people that were not in agreement; while this was
not addressed to anyone specifically, there are people that read this
file that have been found themselves having to make a very painful
decision to give away or put down a beloved pet for reasons in the note
that they came to the conclusion were valid. To these people, this note
came darn close to an ad hominem attacks, and we have stated very
clearly in note 1.0 that those will not be tolerated. To a lot of other
people, it was just plain disrespectful of other people's opinions.
Further, this note came across to me as a note someone was using to
to vent some steam while at the same time getting others to express
in-kind reactions.
This note was not set hidden for the ideas that put forth. Had it been
presented in a different way, it would have been allowed to stand. As
for the replies, all but presented their views on the subject in a
manner similar to the base note, and as such, will remain hidden.
ICS::DOWD's note, however, has been made visible. DEMON::MURPHY's note
could be made visible if it was reworded. The reason that the
entire string was set hidden was as someone alluded to in another note;
the moderators are geographically disbursed and it could take a while
before we could all get notified and come to a consensus, so when that
happens, we shut down the note. (Having been brought to personnel once
for not shutting down a note quickly enough, I am a bit gunshy,
especially as there is "downsizing" going on all around me.) This is
standard operating procedure in other files (WOMANOTES and DIGITAL to
name a couple), and we feel that it is a perfectly reasonable thing to do.
Usually, a quorum of us have the time to act on these things right away
but this has been a very busy work week for all of us, and frankly,
company business comes first.
Deb
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