JimJim Kenny wrote:JOB: Admittedly, I don't hold a candle to the history you and many have with Ken Warren. Your background on him as you shared prompted me to wonder what would Ken say, if prompted by your question. I found it in a 2008 thread deliberating the same subject:
"In an open civic communication channel that aspires, as I believe the LO does, to build the community's capacity for common learning, understanding, judgment and commitment, the best moderation is self-moderation.
So I will propose an order of self-moderation rooted in a common commitment to understanding, along with consideration, fairness and respect for another person.
Such self-moderation involves speaking to issues, to differences in views, to differences in relationships, to differences in content.
Self-moderation avoids labeling other people and making personal attacks.
Self-moderation might possibly reduce the levels of communication directed to a person with the intention to annoy, disqualify, humiliate, infuriate, intimidate, mislead, offend, or vilify."
More on that thread here: http://lakewoodobserver.com/deck/viewto ... engagement
JOB, thank you for encouraging me to seek out Ken's thinking. It reminded of what was my first impression of Ken, which is we both value opinions and mutual respect equally, and one doesn't trump the other because the ends somehow justify the means.
I agree with your post and have no doubt where it was rooted. But Ken would not have stopped the person going over the top, he would have just stopped speaking with him.
In the end you are correct self moderation is always the key, to life and here on the Deck. Bot those that cannot offer us all insight into themselves. I would say and I am sure Ken would agree, what they show us is far more important than what they said.
I am giving a small talk about Ken at the University of Buffalo where he has given most of his poetry, you should come up.
As for the Observer, and the project Ken was but one of many that made this project a reality. Mike Deneen was there from day one, Steve Davis, Heidi Hilty, DL Meckes, Jeff Endress, Steve Gross and Tara, the Farrises, Vince O'Keefe, and others. The project is far different than the one Ken proposed, the city would have hated Ken's idea, as they would have hated my idea. It was the work of everyone, compromising and taking chances that made this possible, and continues to make it possible.
Thanks for the conversation.
.