tbyfield on Tue, 6 Nov 2018 03:54:34 +0100 (CET)


[Date Prev] [Date Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Index] [Thread Index]

Re: <nettime> apropos of nothing 

Angela, all —
Felix Stalder and I are the two people who've consistently moderated the list for the last twenty years. We don't speak for each other, but for my part the simple and straightforward answer to your question is no: nettime will not give fascists a platform from which to recruit. If I see something that clearly crosses any of those lines — there are a few bundled up in there — I'll stop it first and then we can all debate whether that was the right thing to do and how to proceed.
In general, Felix and I have avoided laying down any clearly defined policies at all. While the list isn't what it used to be, the fact that it's lasted this long suggests that's been a prudent approach. Times are changing, but I haven't seen anything on the list that seemed to justify changing that. If you or anyone else see something that seems to cross a clear line, please say so — on the list or privately, whichever you prefer.
I assume your question was promoted in part by Bard. Personally, I think he's a troll. As I said a few days ago, whenever I see his mail my first reaction is "When's the new book coming out?" — and not because I have the slightest interests in his wanking. Felix took a more oblique approach in the same thread ("Complexity and nostalgia," 3 Nov). That's generally how we've tried to moderate: openly on the list rather than behind the scenes, and by nudging discussions rather than cutting people off. We did briefly discuss intervening more directly but decided not to — yet. But as to your more general question, I'd rather just flip the bit and moderate Bard on the grounds that he behaves like an asshole than concoct a formal definition of assholism and then apply that rule to him retroactively. Nettime has lots of failings, but Bard-like behavior isn't one of them.
One useful parallel in this context is Morlock Elloi, who stopped contributing when someone threw a tantrum about his contributions to the list. I think nettime is a much poorer place for his absence, but whatever you or anyone else may think of his contributions, note well: when someone objected, he stopped. Bard, by contrast, fuels negativity and feeds off it — and the list is a much poorer place for his presence. 

Cheers,
Ted

On 4 Nov 2018, at 1:12, Angela Mitropoulos wrote:
It is a simple and straightforward question that I would like answered. It 
makes no inferences about whether recruitment is effective, or even
deliberate rather than aesthetic. But I'm grateful for the evidence you've furnished, dear, about the way in which women are told to calm down and shut up, no matter the tone they take, so that those who think women and black people are less than human and not entitled to take up space can keep ranting on at length about how everyone other than white guys are less than human. I mean, I'm grateful that you've illustrated the reason why I asked this question in the first place. That said, I have no interest in debating 
this further.
I simply repeat my question, and would like it answered. Preferably in the 
negative. But if in the affirmative, then I would like to suggest that
Nettime be shuttered because any benefit it had for creating a better world has long past. The world doesn't need a longform version of Gab, or Gab for 
that matter.

Angela
On Sun, 4 Nov 2018 at 10:29, Willem van Weelden <[email protected]> 
wrote:


dear angela,
relax dear.
it is ok.
noone is recruiting anyone here.
chill.
best,
w



On 03 Nov 2018, at 23:04, Angela Mitropoulos <

[email protected]> wrote:



What is Nettime's policy on whether or not it should give fascists a

platform from which to recruit?


Angela

#  distributed via <nettime>: no commercial use without permission
#  <nettime>  is a moderated mailing list for net criticism,
#  collaborative text filtering and cultural politics of the nets
#  more info: http://mx.kein.org/mailman/listinfo/nettime-l
#  archive: http://www.nettime.org contact: [email protected]
#  @nettime_bot tweets mail w/ sender unless #ANON is in Subject: