diplomats of haiku

The following illustrates a social networking problem which is ubiquitous. below is the full text of an open letter which was posted at Haiku Society of America in response to a moderators post . . .

"I also ask that everyone using this page avoid direct or indirect references to another person’s character" - Ce Rosenow

source (preserved in case of accidental loss)

It's like this:

- We've had a spate of personal attacks here at our group of late.
- Is this haiku spirit in action?
- Is this to be tolerated?
- Or, do we all act like grown ups and police the nasties when they start their dysfunctional nonsense.
- My vote is for the latter.

Here's one reason (of many) why:

We're all of us diplomats for beautiful haiku (yes we are, like it or lump it). Now, how do we see ourselves and how does the world see us?

For example, newbies (especially) see more experienced players acting like mad dogs. What do they do? They go away and spread the bad news. Or, they stick and role model a ridiculous example. Or, they become afraid to express their views for fear of being scorned by nitwits (and this is, especially, appalling).

This atrocious state of affairs should, clearly, be nipped in the bud. According to a recent proclamation of intent [see above] this was to be the case. But, it wasn't here:

READ THE THREAD . . .

http://www.facebook.com/groups/137567702957028/?view=permalink&id=228688897178241

I sincerely hope, for the health of our group, that this matter is sorted out. (The introductory page needs this caveat on members interpersonal behaviour applied to it.)

OPEN LETTER

Dear mad dogs (you know who you are). Listen up. It's not clever to cover your obvious ignorance with attempts at sarcastic bullying, ruin posts with your pompous filibustering, copy/paste your domineering slab-comments and indulge in your endlessly self-serving link mania - not to mention drive-past smear campaigns, and all the rest of your sad stuff. Collectively, you are dumping your toxic waste on our bright haiku landscape. This has to stop. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

02-09-11

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Subsequent exhange between myself and Ce . . .

- - Ce Rosenow
    - - Hi John,
        Well, I clearly don't understand all the workings of Facebook yet. I responded to your open letter to explain that I agreed about not wanting personal attacks on the HSA site. I also pointed out that our guidelines, including my recent elaboration, should prevent those attacks. Posts need to fit one of the four categories I listed. Then I explained that your letter, although well-intentioned, did not fit any of those categories and I encouraged all posts to fit one of those categories. So far so good. Then I deleted your open letter because it doesn't fit the content for our page as outlined in our guidelines. I somehow didn't realize that my comment would also be deleted and your letter would have disappeared without explanation. That's why I'm writing. I wanted you to know why your letter was deleted rather than just deleting it. Thanks for your support of the "no personal attacks" message!
        Best,
        Ce
  - John Potts
    - - Hi Ce,
        We have a copy of the letter and so that's not a worry. I can understand why you would want to get rid of it - bad for business. The important thing is to monitor for bullying and dirty tricks. I also think that you need to have a word with whoever moderates about how moderation actually works. In any case, we'll see if the letter has had any effect on the culprits' behaviour in future - for be sure that they will have read it, along with many normal members.
        Over the haiku years I've seen these same 'mad dogs' spoil so many sites. Every so often a new one joins the ranks. To not police this sort of thing can get a group and its associates a bad name. For the sake of the future I'd make sure that there is a system of warnings in place. After 3 counts, say, the perpetrator is removed from the group. The behaviour of late has been dreadful. Really dreadful. I'm sure you'll be on the ball with this problem.
        Kind regards,
        jp

- - - - 03-09-11

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NOTE

When groups of people get together it's all about compromise - how else could it be? Sometimes the egotism of one self-promotor can, sadly, spoil that creative mutual accord process. This is why we say: choose your company on the basis of actions not words; and always hammer out policy before you jump in the pond. After that it's an honours system.

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