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what else?!

Since tonight has been a virtual balloting-process about the nature of the
list, here's my vote.  I second Geoff Notkin's sentiments, as they are quite
similar in content to a post I sent about two weeks ago, before the "fit hit
the shan". 
I think more is lost than gained, as the freedom of the list becomes more and
more whittled.  Without doubt, there are times that some list-posts have
become questionable at best.  But I can "delete" with just a contraction of
my thumb-muscle on my mouse.  It seems to me that an easy, split-second
keystroke is the lesser of the evils, rather than censoring.  The argument
about WHAT and WHOM to censor will be infinitely more complicated, heated, and
partisan than the argument about WHETHER to censor.  Y'know, there is a lot
of poor programming on TV these days, but THAT'S WHY THEY HAVE CHANNEL
KNOBS AND OFF-BUTTONS ON TV'S.  Which presents the greater problem/danger,
ignoring or banning?   Seems to me the latter. 
Craig offered earlier this evening:  <>
This is all well and good when one is speaking about law and crime, but if
society (list?) begins to try to LEGISLATE morality-and-behavior issues, we
move
dangerously closer to out-of-control-political-correctness and "thought
police".
You can't make boorishness or obnoxiousness illegal.  I believe it's the job
of individuals
to deal with that, not a governmental-or-list authority.  It seems odd that
a country/list which wishes to be based on the notion of freedom seems to be
trying to FIND ways to LIMIT it, rather than ways to maximize it, while
retaining a clear PREFERENCE for civility.  Occasionally, freedom of
expression comes clothed in rudeness, but the solution is not to lessen the
freedom itself.
As for the issue of commercialism on the list, I happen to like it.  Is there
a compelling reason why any such posts cannot simply be entitled "SALE"
in the subject line?  All ye who are disinterested or ethically offended, pass
it by.  Should someone
wish to offer two messages, one of a commercial nature and one not, kindly
make
two posts, titled accordingly.  Isn't everyone then happy?
I recognize that I seem to be in the minority here, but I appreciate the fact
that we all have the opportunity to vote!   Here's hoping no one wants to ban
THAT freedom any time soon.  
(I don't envy you, Art.....!!)           Gregory