Re: Blocked Posts

["John Gelles" <johng@xxxxxxxxxx>]

        Nearly a decade ago, when I joined PKT discussions,
        there was a major point of agreement (honor, if you
        will,) that PKT was an uncessored discussion.

        One of the most articulate on the subject was Bill
        Mitchell.  None were opposed free speech. All
        were opposed to censorship (moderator filtering).

        Then, as now, there was concern that some who
        wrote, wrote too much. And that the total volume of
        mail ought not exceed what any lurker (or writer)
        could comfortably read.

        I was attacked as "one who wanted to dominate this
        discussion". The change from an uncensored to a
        slightly censored discussion hapened in no small part
        due to my insistence on common sense in policy --
        expressed too often in a day or a week.

        There was one worse offender, who was truly a bore
        and shall be nameless. We two brought down the
        nobility of this forum. Aided of course by a stupid
        decision to censor when it was not necessary.

        The correct solution was to convict in public (on
        list) any true offender of stupidity or malice, and kick
        him off the list.

        Now, when my stuff is censored, I want to quit. But
        I resist actually doing it.  Henry Liu may also resist
        and return -- because he is not impeachable for
        stupidity or malice -- and this audience is worth his
        writing effort.

        It is time for everyone in this discussion to demand
        and end to censorship. Set up a way to kick off
        people who waste your time -- and if I'm one, fine.

        I know there is a very fine line between sensible
        PKT and idiocy. I often think PKT's inability to
        go the full measure of Lernerian thought --to see
        that only potential hyperinflation  justifies taxes --
        is both tragic and idiotic. PKT's tax positions costs
        it the votes of middle class victims of  neoliberalism.
        It costs us the whole ball game.

        When that thought hits me I want to quit. So if
        I get fired instead, that's fine. But censorship is a
        crime in these precincts. And we put up with it to
        our lasting shame.

            John Gelles

        P.S. Nothing above is said in defense of personal
        attack (flaming). Flames must be prohibited. If the
        prohibition is violated -- and the message still is
        distributed -- the person flamed (or any friend)
        should be entitled to bring the flamer to court (on list).
        If convicted, punishment should be swift and sure.
        This "after the fact process" will save us the need
        to filter all posts ahead of time.

----- Original Message -----
From: Henry C.K. Liu <hliu@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <pkt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2001 8:02 AM
Subject: Blocked Posts


Two of my posts to pkt have failed to get through.  The last one: on the
causes of the fall of the USSR, included cites on the views of Newt
Gringrich, hardly a communist propagandist.

I cannot participate on a list that imposes constant apprehension of
interception in expressing my thoughts.  Until my post on the fall of
the USSR gets through, I will not post further on pkt.

Sorry for being disruptive, but I am not accustomed to altering my ideas
merely to fit in.

Henry C.K. Liu