POLICY OF THE AUTISM-MERCURY LIST REGARDING DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR

[Guest guest]

POLICY OF THE AUTISM-MERCURY LIST REGARDING DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR

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7/19/02

Dear list,

The following policy has been in effect for just over a year on

this list. This policy was first posted by Lyn Redwood in July

2001. This is an actual POLICY of this list. I think it is the

only policy:

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On-going disruptive behavior on the list will not be tolerated.

Disruptive behavior includes (but is not limited to):

repeated frequent advertising postings,

stating contentious opinions but not engaging in dialog about them,

and not responding to concerns raised by other members about list

behavior.

On-going disruptive behavior is apparent from a general consensus

of the public postings of complaint by group members.

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For the moment, I will put this in a file and post ask groups

to send it to the list once in a while. (They do such things

automatically if asked.)

Please notice that the general idea is that while disagreements

are expected, persistent disruptiveness is not the same thing as

disagreeing.

Debate that moves ideas forward can be useful. Repeating the same points

and not responding to counter evidence is NOT useful, especially when

done in quantity, etc.

Thoughtful readers will also note that the policy does not limit

" disruptive behavior " to the examples given.

This is a friendly and cooperative list most of the time.

All of our goodwill and efforts to keep it that way DO make a difference.

best wishes,

Moria

occassional list administrator