Re: [A-List] Melvin

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Bob writes:

I cannot quarrel with the decision, especially after Sabri's calm
re-statement of the rules.
I find this kind of language upsetting as well, (even when it is addressed
to Melvin.)
But. it needs to be said that it takes two to produce a good old-fashioned
Stalin-Trotsky bunfight.
Perhaps  we could take a stronger line earlier in a thread when anyone,
including even, dare I say, Louis Proyect steps over this line.
And I don't just mean the Moderators, but those of us who find the whole
Stalin-Trotsky "debate" irrelevent, depressing and useless.

------

Bob, your general irritation with Lou Proyect is sufficiently clear. He has
declined to communicate his evaluation of you, despite your occasional
baiting. I'm as disappointed to lose Melvin's genuine contributions as
anyone, but the price is simply too high. We cannot allow that sort of
language to let loose here, whatever the source.

As for Stalin and Trotsky, Melvin raised many important issues here that
touched upon this old dispute in a sufficiently novel way to merit
bandwidth. While Lou was able to handle it (both here and on Marxmail) it
was Melvin who showed an inability to abide by the extremely simple and
sensible guidelines that apply to this list (and Marxmail). And whatever our
respective sympathies for Melvin's politics, we must acknowledge that Louis
Proyect has been far more critical of the tradition he supposedly represents
than has Melvin of his.

As for deportment, Melvin has already, repeatedly, let loose with unsavoury
language, and comments have been made concerning certain sexist undertones
in the past to me offlist. These were certainly evident in some of the
language Melvin chose to use in this latest exchange, akin to an out-take
from a Snoop Dogg recording session. Recently Melvin also made unacceptable
remarks concerning homosexuality. So by this time he was at the end of his
tether.

Possibly, after some time out, he may come back, subject to all the simple,
hardly onerous conditions that govern the list. But the Stalin-Trotsky
debate is not taboo. Sectarian practice is.

Michael