Many of the contributors to Paddlewise have been participants in similar forums: Wavelength, rec.boats.paddle, etc. The difference betwen the forumss mentioned and Paddlewise is that Paddlewise has an _enforced_ charter. Jackie is the enforcer. I've watched every _unmoderated_ electronic forum I monitor (with the possible exception of rec.boats.building) deteriorate to babble and pap, at the hands (lips? keystrokes?) of various semi-functional humanoids who seem to have no better purpose in their lives than to engage in contentious, sometimes commercial, rancorous one-upmanship. I've put the sponson-boy, Malmrose, and a host of others in my killfile so that I can tolerate hitting rec.boats.paddle.touring. I do not understand the social dynamic which puts us under the thumbs of the s-boy and his ilk (responders to same). I do not understand why this version of the "paradox of the commons" always results in the trashing of normal human intelligent discourse. When Paddlewise was formed four years ago, I did not appreciate the need for a strong moderator, one who can be an SOB when it comes to enforcing the rules regarding noncomercial postings, and the like. Thank God for Jackie! If she did not whack us on the knuckles now and then when we stray, I believe this forum would fall apart. I can live with an occasional whacking ... if what I get in return is honest, noncommercial dialog among paddlers. Let's stick with the Paddlewise charter and get on with discussing rolls, rudders, deck bags, and ... __more trip reports__! -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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