[Tango-L] Melina's DJing Primer (and Tango-L rules)

[Tango-L and Tango-A Administrator]

> *"The absolute high point with Pugliese tangos..."*
> 
> -Laughable.

Normally, moderator comments about postings are sent to the individual 
concerned, but this is a good example of a posting that managed with a 
single word to violate both the spirit and letter of two Tango-L rules, 
to wit:

- 1-liners and other banal trivialities;

- Negative or critical comments with no other redeeming contribution.

The real shame is that if the poster actually had some knowledgeable 
reasons to contribute towards this opinion, he squandered the 
opportunity to add a meaningful explanation as to WHY he disagreed with 
the opinion (about Pugliese Tangos), which could have led to a 
meaningful discussion on the subject.


Disruptive behaviour such as flames, rants, straw man arguments, and the 
like have never been permitted on Tango-L and ARE being more strongly 
enforced in recent months. All posters should have read the Tango-L 
posting rules before posting, but those whose style has tended to be 
confrontational in the past all the more so. (See www.tango-L.com)

Here is an excerpt from the above-referenced section:

===============
NO FLAMES, RANTS, SWEARING OR PERSONAL ATTACKS (Strongly Enforced)!

Personal flames or attacks on individuals are not permitted on this 
list. Heated debates on the merits or otherwise of a particular Tango 
technique, music, style, etc., are perfectly appropriate; however, 
anything that degenerates into personal attacks should be relegated to 
personal e-mail. ...

Since this rule is enforced strictly and often without second chances, 
posters are advised to heed well the following:

- If you mention anyone by name (explicitly or implicitly by context) in 
a negative context, you are almost certain to run afoul of this rule. 
Any point that you wish to make or contradict about what a person said 
can be done by referring to the idea that person conveyed and not the 
person himself. Including more than one person in a flame, or referring 
generally to "all you people who ..." does not automatically shield you 
from what would otherwise be a flame if it were directed at one named 
individual.

- Generally mean-spirited or divisive posts, or rants (e.g., negative or 
complaining posts with no other redeeming content, are also prohibited 
even if no individuals are identified.

- Swearing and hard language is not permitted (use a string of asterisks 
to convey the equivalent sentiment if you feel it is necessary to make 
your point). Hate-posts against groups or individuals (e.g., based on 
race, national original) are explicitly prohibited.

- No trolling (from Wikipedia: "someone who posts controversial and 
usually irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as 
an online discussion forum or chat room, with the intention of baiting 
other users into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal 
on-topic discussion) or straw man arguments (attempts to be inflammatory 
by intentionally attaching meaning to a previous post that was clearly 
not intended (for example as a vehicle for then attacking that "opinion").
===============


Shahrukh