I do not usually post on the lists I subscribe to, but the Kent Johnson flap
has drawn me out of my customary silence. Having followed Mr. Johnson on
three lists (UB Poetics, Subsubpoetics and now Poetry Etc.) god knows I am
no fan of his tireless baiting of anyone and everyone who can be drawn into
his volatility and insecurity. But I have decided to unsubscribe from this
list, not because of Kent Johnson, (I know how to use a delete key) but
because of the willingness of the list "management" to silence him.
A list of this kind is bound to attract personalities that are difficult. It
cannot be any other way. For people who run a list to pretend that they are
only responsible to those who fit their picture of what a list should look
like is disingenuous. Their decision to take on such an unpredictable and
potentially irritating task has consequences for everyone who subscribes.The
kind of responsibility that is called for cannot be said to have been met
when one person is sacrificed (Ms. Croggin's recent words to Erminia on this
word echo with heavy irony here) for the good of the rest, since there is
only exclusivity at the expense of human kindness in such an outcome. I am
on at least one list where people view it as a personal failure if they
cannot endure this kind of thing and solve it without recourse to
censorship. They are right.
David Hickman
on 7/22/01 3:51 PM, [log in to unmask] at [log in to unmask] wrote:
> Anthony asked:
>
>> did Kent unsubscribe or was he removed? I'm not clear on this.
>
> Kent was removed at the discretion of the list owners, after his postings
> were placed under review (which meant that they went to us first before
> being distributed to the list). Kent was aware he was under review, as a
> notice goes to any subscriber whose settings are altered in this way.
> These actions were taken for reasons obvious to the list and others which
> will not be. Neither Candice nor I have any intention of entering a
> torturous and time-wasting discussion on who said what to whom.
>
> Now, on with the show!
>
> Best
>
> Alison
|