I personally am against deleting information (unless it's personal
identifiable e.g. phone number/address/DoB etc, or perhaps rarely if it
is specificly offensive message directed at a single individual). I find
it too close to policing others / suppressing free speech and find it
generally better to have robust counter-arguments/points of view
published alongside.
I think in this scenario, option 3 is a good one, and I also think that
there has been sufficient discussion around the offensive posts that the
point of view was clearly shown as archaic and out of touch.
Of course, maybe another suggestion is that in the warning email, it
could be suggested to the person/people making the original posts that
they might like to go in and delete them themselves. That would also
signal that the person/people had learned from the experience, and I
would find the whole episode a lot more satisfactory.
Best wishes,
-- Andrei
On Tue, Sep 11, 2018 at 09:47:38AM +0000, Macfarlane, Alison wrote:
> Thank you to everyone who replied. If you haven’t yet replied, but want to, can you please reply today?
>
> Thanks, Alison
>
> From: Macfarlane, Alison
> Sent: 03 September 2018 11:21
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: FW: Complaint about racist epithets on radstats list (Ref:IN:00344039)
>
> Dear all,
>
> I did not forward this to the list straight away as I wanted to discuss the suggested actions with the troika. As you see, jiscmail, which provides these email lists has had a complaint about racist epithets being used on the radstats list. It has looked at the messages on the list and concluded that ‘the position that the language used is not appropriate for any list on the service’. This is a major disgrace that this is the jiscmail list for radstats, a group whose aims include supporting positive social change. Jiscmail wanted to put a stop to this conversation, but I had already declared it closed, despite which someone has recently sent another message. As far as jiscmail’s suggestions go:
>
>
> 1. We could move to a moderated list. This would involve someone in a lot of work and potential accusations of censorship. Does anyone think we should do this?
>
> 2. Delete the offending messages. This would not be a major task. What do members think?
>
> 3. Send individual warnings to the offending subscribers. I hope they know who they are without a warning and are thoroughly ashamed of themselves.
>
> Best wishes, Alison
>
>
>
>
> From: Jisc Service Desk [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 29 August 2018 11:38
> To: Macfarlane, Alison
> Subject: Complaint about racist epithets on radstats list (Ref:IN:00344039)
>
> Hi Alison,
>
> JiscMail has received a complaint about recent posts and language used on your mailing list - RADSTATS.
>
> I'm aware that you know of this and have read your post to the list reminding subscribers about JiscMail service policy. We're here to help and assist in any way that we can. With any complaint we need to fully investigate and come to a satisfactory outcome.
>
> JiscMail service policy states: List owners are specifically responsible for:
>
> * Setting the topic for the list and monitoring messages to ensure that they are appropriate and taking action if necessary.
> Understandably some of the offending posts occurred over the bank holiday period and there was a delay in viewing and taking action to combat this. JiscMail takes the position that the language used is not appropriate for any list on the service, and we'd like to put a full stop to the conversation on the RADSTATS list.
>
> Possible future actions:
>
> Remove the offending messages: You may choose to remove messages by logging in and accessing your list. Selecting the monthly archive of August, then on the right side of every message is a recycle bin button, clicking this will delete a message from the online archive.
>
> Enable moderation on the mailing list: Moderating posts would mean you can choose whether or not to publish emails to the list. We can help if you wish to enable this.
>
> Send the offending subscribers a written warning: You may choose, if you deem necessary, to send a warning to those who posted the messages.
>
> I'll be monitoring the list for the foreseeable future for the content of messages, and should there be any occurrences of similar language, we'll step in again. I've let the subscriber who contacted us know we'll be discussing the matter with the owner of the list (you). Let me know your thoughts on the matter and above options?
>
> Thanks,
> Dan Etherington
>
> JiscMail Helpline
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ******************************************************
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> message will go only to the sender of this message.
> If you want to reply to the whole list, use your mailer's
> 'Reply-to-All' button to send your message automatically
> to [log in to unmask]
> Disclaimer: The messages sent to this list are the views of the sender and cannot be assumed to be representative of the range of views held by subscribers to the Radical Statistics Group. To find out more about Radical Statistics and its aims and activities and read current and past issues of our newsletter you are invited to visit our web site www.radstats.org.uk.
> *******************************************************
--
Andrei Morgan MRCPCH, MSc, PhD (Epidemiology / Neonatology)
https://www.andreimorgan.net
Honorary Clinical Lecturer,
Department of Neonatology,
Institute for Women's Health,
University College London
******************************************************
Please note that if you press the 'Reply' button your
message will go only to the sender of this message.
If you want to reply to the whole list, use your mailer's
'Reply-to-All' button to send your message automatically
to [log in to unmask]
Disclaimer: The messages sent to this list are the views of the sender and cannot be assumed to be representative of the range of views held by subscribers to the Radical Statistics Group. To find out more about Radical Statistics and its aims and activities and read current and past issues of our newsletter you are invited to visit our web site www.radstats.org.uk.
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