With all due respect, Alison, the below is untypically disingenuous
of you. Are you saying that Randolph has not suggested I am a
snob, an obsessive compulsive, and monomaniacal? (All of which I
am, no doubt, but it's still bad manners of him, especially as a list
moderator, to openly say so.)
Anyway, here's the nub of it, for me: The charge of "Intimidation" is
absolutely silly and childish (note that I am not calling Randolph
silly and childish, just his argument). Were Henry's posts
intimidating? Why so? Because he was so smart in his critiques of
Language dogma and insistent on the, perhaps, deeper value of
other poetic ontologies? No, the only real intimidation deserving of
the term happened back channel, through threats and warnings
and probations to people like Henry Gould, Mairead Byrne, and
others. Then the expulsions came. With no explanation and barely
any courtesy of response of any kind when explanation was
requested. I suppose you can say that this is the "right" of the
listowner, and you would be correct, on one level, but it doesn't
make the actions any less arrogant or reprehensible.
Censorship is disruptive of the health of poetry lists. Exclusion
based on poetic differences is disruptive of the health of poetry
lists. A lack of candor and communication on the part of those
doing the censoring and excluding is disruptive of poetry lists.
Naming, from a position of exclusion, the practice of arbitrary,
undemocratic practices that run counter to the open spirit of poetry
is not disruptive.
Pardon the oracular tone. I've been reading the Bible today.
Kent
**
Nowhere here, or in the rest of
>> this self-congratulatory screed, is there any mention of the
numerous
>> listmembers who felt intimidated by those ended up being
removed.
> > Intimidated to the point where they felt they didn't dare post.
This is the nub of it, for me. And no, Randolph's post wasn't one
of
personal insult, just an angry response to Kent's provocative
allegations of censorship. Nowhere, Kent, did he say _you_ were
a
load of twaddle. Just what you wrote.
It's a basic mistake to think that poetry lists are somehow
reflective of literary heirachies. They're not. Disrupting lists is
hardly storming the Bastille. More like kicking over some kids'
sandcastle. I think there are worthier targets.
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