From: sichase@csa1.lbl.gov (SCOTT I CHASE)
Newsgroups: news.groups,sci.physics
Subject: Re: sci.physics.research: proposed panel of moderators
Date: 7 Jan 1993 17:51 PST
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory - Berkeley, CA, USA
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In article <1993Jan7.214556.13841@galois.mit.edu>, jbaez@riesz.mit.edu (John C. Baez) writes...
>Sean Merritt writes:
>>I am suggesting that if DB doesn't someone else should. 3 people would
>>always reach a majority decision. With four there is the probability
>>of deadlock.(however slim it does exist)
> 
>Seems to me Merritt is taking this business too seriously.  I promise
>that if such a deadlock ever arose I would bow out, since I certainly
>don't have the time for protracted arguments about whether an article
>gets published in sci.physics.research.  

I think that the important point is that the rules for handling various
cases that may arise be well publicized and thought out before the new
group gets going.  I have no doubt that this will happen.

Regarding objections to Dale as moderator:

Since I have frequently wrangled with Dale in this newsgroup, and my
silence might be misconstrued, I would like to publicly state that I think
that Dale is highly qualified to act as moderator, and that in spite of 
our frequent differences on matters of policy and other "soft" subjects
I have no doubt that he is intellectually honest, able, and willing
to moderate the new group according to the rules set down by the
community.

I too have had my unhappiness with Dale's "style."  He sometimes keeps
threads alive longer than I think appropriate, and he sometimes puts
appearances ahead of content when debating.  He can be an artful
argumenter, skillfully employing misdirection and a handful of other 
tricks to avoid getting cornered.  

However, I am not without my own social flaws, and will not support 
any judgement of Dale or any of the other moderators on the basis of a 
"popularity contest" mentality.  Dale has earned my respect by 
consistently demonstrating that on matters of physics he is careful,
thoughtful, and knowledgeable.  It seems to me that I can remember a 
rather large group of threads in which Dale has been a voice of reason,
if not the only voice of reason.  I think that he has contributed
materially to our physics discussions on a regular basis.  In fact he 
was doing so well before I ever joined the group.  

The problem seems to be that at least a few people think that Dale has
contributed to the noise which has forced us to create the moderated 
group in the first place, and that this disqualifies him from acting
as moderator.  Personally, I do not see it this way.  It seems
that some people are angry at him, and will take it out on him
by opposing his moderatorship.  But I have yet to see a credible
and specific concern raised regarding Dale's qualifications or
intentions.  Until I do, I will continue to support him.  

-Scott
--------------------
Scott I. Chase			"It is not a simple life to be a single cell,
SICHASE@CSA2.LBL.GOV		 although I have no right to say so, having
				 been a single cell so long ago myself that I 
				 have no memory at all of that stage of my 
				 life." - Lewis Thomas
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