META Re: Why not have an EXI-GUNS list?

Mike Linksvayer (ml@justintime.com)
Mon, 07 Jun 1999 11:52:23 -0700

Brian D Williams wrote:
> From: "Harvey Newstrom" <newstrom@newstaffinc.com>
> >Why can't we make an EXI-GUNS list? This seems to be a
> >high-traffic special-interest topic which is not going to go away.
> >This would move the traffic off the main list, which should make
> >some people happy. It would also maintain the guns-extropian
> >connection, which would make other people happy.
>
> Point Harvey.....
>
> An excellent compromise.

How about something a little broader? If the goal is simply to get flamefests off the list, a separate exi-politics list could help. The problem isn't guns, it's the politics of guns, and the politics of property, of race, etc.

If the goal is to only get gun-related flamefests off the list and perhaps engender some good discussion of other defense technologies and strategies, exi-defense would be a good candidate.

In any case, I'm skeptical that creation of another list will do much to get rid of flamefests on this list. There are already many other places to discuss politics and guns. However, both sides feel a need to address opposing arguments wherever they appear. Someone will make statements about guns on this list again, and the opposing side will attempt to address those statements on this list, lest some lurker get the wrong impression and think there is no opposition. The only change will be that pressure to stop will consist of "I'm sick of this, go to the guns/politics list" rather than today's "I'm sick of this, go someplace else".

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