[Coral-List] Sarcasm, disagreements, etc.

[DeeVon Quirolo]

Jim--you're  doing a heroe's job and I for one, appreciate you very much.
It is interesting to me, a policy wonk, to see how some scientists squirm
around the inevitable political ramifications of their work, while others
accept their role as intellectual leaders in a society that looks to them
for guidance and aren't afraid to embrace a finding that (concidentally)
supports political change.

All the best, DeeVon
On Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 9:43 AM, Jim Hendee <jim.hendee at noaa.gov> wrote:

> I take notice and a tiny bit of umbrage at your epigrammatic quote.
> "Censorship always defeats...etc."  Nobody said anything about
> censorship as it relates to "sensitive" topics.  My concern is drifting
> "off topic" and personal barbs.  Everybody knows that in nature
> everything is connected to everything, but this is a "coral" list, not a
> coral/politics/nasty-gram/engineering/peripheral-issues list.  I hope
> everybody agrees that I've tried to let this be as free-wheeling as
> possible...up to a point.  Defining that point is necessarily arbitrary
> when one guy makes the decision, but I feel like I try to be
> open-minded.  I also have to follow the NOAA, Dept. Commerce, and U.S.G.
> guidelines, too.  Common courtesy should be part of these discussions, too.
>
> However, to be more even-handed, I have asked to have others (within
> NOAA) occasionally moderate this list, but no takers.  I wonder why...
>
>
> On 12/5/10 12:29 PM, Steve Mussman wrote:
> > Jim,
> >
> > It looks like you are about to come to terms by re-examining the scope,
> magnitude
> > and role of the Coral-List. In doing so, perhaps you will end up
> redefining it's essence.
> > Numerous comments reveal a polarized list membership whose opposing
> perspectives resemble
> > the ideological divide that characterizes our populace at large. That is
> understandable
> > since many studies have revealed that attitudes towards issues we've
> examined
> > (like climate change and offshore oil exploration) often fall along
> ideological lines.
> >
> > It appears that some listers want the list to limit it's function and
> avoid topics
> > that might lead to contentious debate. Still others (me, among them) find
> value
> > within these exchanges. Perhaps you are getting a glimpse of the
> difficulties involved
> > in governing under today's political realities. It is not an enviable
> task and I imagine
> > your decision will require much introspection.
> >
> > I would simply suggest that you consider measuring your response by
> considering Coral
> > List's constitutional format. The list seems to define itself through a
> concise and
> > comprehensive mission statement. "The purpose of the Coral-List
> listserver is to provide
> > a forum for Internet discussions and announcements pertaining to coral
> reef ecosystem
> > research, conservation, and education. The list is primarily for use by
> coral reef
> > ecosystem researchers, scientists and educators, but is of course open to
> everybody."
> > Included among the list of "appropriate" coral reef ecosystem related
> subjects for
> > discussion are "climate change" and "controversial topics in reef
> ecology".
> >
> > My interpretation of the above described design of the Coral-List would
> assume that it
> > would in fact encourage what some critics have described as digressions
> or useless
> > excursions off topic. (How myopic does one have to be to describe climate
> change or oil
> > spills as unrelated to coral reef ecology?) But why are these discussions
> beyond the
> > mundane considered problematic? I can point to a number of such exchanges
> that have proven
> > to be informative, educational and enlightening. I have certainly learned
> much through
> > the observable interplay of the scientific community that helps me to
> better understand
> > the impediments to what I see as vital and necessary policy shifts on a
> myriad of critical
> > issues affecting our marine ecosystems.
> >
> > It is in this light that I hope you will resist the impulse to curtail an
> important function
> > of the list and keep it's spirit broad and inclusive.
> >
> >   Steve
> >
> >
> > Censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end,
> the kind of society
> > that is incapable of exercising real discretion.--Henry Steele Commager
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
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-- 
DeeVon Quirolo

www.reefrelieffounders.com

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Mahatma Gandhi

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Mother Theresa

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