[Boatanchors] e-Bay censorship

[Bill Cotter]

Your points are reasonable, Todd. And, for the most part I agree 100%

Where I get a bit uncomfortable is all the "self-appointed 
list-sheriffs" who speak with their own imaginary authority. Using 
your example, if I was a guest in your house and was telling all 
the other guests what they should/should not do while visiting.

Duane has already made it clear what his position is, and it is 
more reasonable than the moralists in their turbans....... Now, if 
Duane would put his poetic acumen into a BA policy that is posted, 
I think the BS will end.

tnx agn - Bill N4LG




At 01:00 PM 6/17/2012, Todd, KA1KAQ wrote:
>On Sun, Jun 17, 2012 at 11:58 AM, Bill Cotter 
><<mailto:n4lg at qx.net>n4lg at qx.net> wrote:
>I can't see to understand why so many of you critical people 
>forget the use of the "DELETE" key, or better yet using filters to 
>delete any reference to e-Bay............  Instead, you insist on 
>legislating your morals on everyone to satisfy your own pious egos.
>
>
>It isn't about legislating morals, Bill. Merely about following 
>the rules, clarified or otherwise.
>
>Too many folks seem to think these lists or other internet sites 
>are 'free speech democracies' which they are not. They are, for 
>lack of a better term, benevolent dictatorships.  As someone who 
>owns and operates one of the busier radio sites on the net, I like 
>to tell folks that it's a lot like being invited into someone 
>else's house as a guest. They set the rules, we don't. As a 
>visitor, we can choose to either abide by their rules or opt not 
>to go inside the house. Simple as that. If the rules are 
>ridiculous or otherwise too restricting, there won't be much or 
>any activity. Or if it's not interesting to the majority, as seems 
>to be the case with the Ebay-FS list.
>
>The original issues about ebay postings over a decade ago resulted 
>from a tiny minority who put themselves and their wishes above 
>what the vast majority was interested in. Far more pious, IMO. 
>Clearly, most folks know where ebay is and how to use it. And as 
>clearly, most folks prefer to keep the sales aspect separate from 
>the technical or other radio-related exchanges that take place on 
>these lists.
>
>One could easily make the same argument that you make, but against 
>those who use ebay: that they're being selfish and/or greedy by 
>posting their auction ads rather than simply setting a price if 
>they want to offer it on a list. I don't see it that way since 
>I've used ebay since the 90s and appreciate having it available. 
>I'm sure the vast majority see it this way, very, very few hate 
>ebay or refuse to use it. Which gets it back to the basic 
>discussion about the list rules, not whether or not someone likes, 
>dislikes, or uses ebay.
>
>Probably not a lot different than smokers who believe they should 
>have the right to smoke anywhere they please because it's 
>something they like and want to do, and those who feel they should 
>be able to go out for dinner or elsewhere for similar reasons 
>without breathing someone else's smoke. You'll never convince 
>either party that they're wrong.
>
>73 -
>
>~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4
>