From: Bob Stout 

On Fri, 21 May 2004, Roger Scudder wrote:

> Are we looking for a volunteer or a nominee?

Ideally, nominees. If that fails to produce a slate of candidates, then an
acceptable (see my previous message for the definition) volunteer would be
the next best option.

> I don't understand the sudden need to cast tradition to the wind.  Why
> _not_ accept nominees? If there is a time constraint, why not have Bob
> assume the role as interim moderator until a formal nomination and
> election process can be completed?

There is no time constraint nor real sense of urgency. Thanks to Tom Torf's
swift action, the C_Echo remains EchoListed with me as the designated
moderator. My concerns with this arrangement are simple:

1.  Having spent some time moderating EchoMail conferences, I know that
    sometimes you have to deal with people one-on-one. If I should need to
    deal with such a person who only has a FidoNet 4D address and no email
    address, I'm helpless to do that.

2.  Simply as a matter of principle, I believe that the FidoNet moderator
    should be an active FidoNet member. The linked forums as they now
    exist are an artifact of a conscious decision. There's nothing
    inherent in either group that requires them to be linked. While I
    strongly believe that this is a good arrangement for a variety of
    reasons, I also believe that the FidoNet members should be in control
    of their own destiny.

> Before I go on, I need to make one thing clear...  I don't want to shrug
> off responsibility, but I don't think I have the right temperament to
> moderate.  Call me immature, excitable, an ass, or what ever you like.
> As Popeye says, "I yams what I yams".

As Dirty Harry once said, "a good man knows him limitations." ;-)
OTOH, I think you could rise to the occasion. Still, no one should do
something they're not comfortable doing.

> I can think of a couple of other people who might be appropriate
> choices, but their lack of presence here indicates (to me anyway) that
> they probably don't have the time or inclination to do it.  I don't
> think we have given enough time to determine that though.

This was the thing with Tom. Having lived through this myself, I'm in awe
of someone who could shoulder the burden while retaining his sanity for as
long as Tom did.

> Bob, I get the impression that you want to moderate the C Echo, and I
> think you would make a great moderator.

Been there, done that! ;-)  Seriously, I want to moderate the SNIPPETS C
mailing list which is currently linked to the C_Echo. I wouldn't feel right
trying to moderate the C_Echo without becoming an active FidoNet member
once again (since I know the mail gateway software tends to be fragile),
and I really don't want to set myself up as a point once again. I could, of
course, but it wouldn't be my first choice.

> Understand that I am quite fond of you and there is a part of me that
> wants to simply give you whatever I think it is that you want.  The only
> thing that concerns me and makes me think that there should be an
> election is the long standing feud between you and Charles.

Dang, things have been so quiet lately that I hoped no one would mention that! ;-)

> I think we owe it to all participants to try to be as fair as possible.

I concur, which is why I didn't just silently accept Tom's passing the
baton (a/k/a the "hot potato") to me.

> In light of that one concern, I am nominating Neil Heller for moderator
> of the C Echo.  If Neil declines and no one else is successfully
> nominated, then I will agree that there is no point in holding an
> election.

An excellent suggestion! We'll see where it leads...

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