Greetings... I'm seeking the input of other list owners in solving a problem on one of my lists, CJUST-L. For context, here's a blurb from the INFO file: --- Begin --- CJUST-L is meant to serve as a forum for free and open discussion of Criminal Justice issues and problems, whether they be theoretical or real, from your own experiences or the newspaper's front page. Research done by list members is especially welcome. It is meant primarily to be an academic discussion list, although all subscribers are encouraged to participate regardless of their backgrounds. --- End --- That blurb has remained unchanged since I started administering the list in early 1993. Since that time I've concluded that the criminal justice system is one of those hot-button topics on which everyone has strongly-held views and, for purposes of maintaining and growing a useful *academic* list, I need to impose certain controls. For example, a few years ago, discussion of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (RKBA) was dominating the list to the near exclusion of everything else. No one was changing anyone else's mind and folks were unsubscribing in frustration, including some well-known and well-respected academics who had previously made invaluable contributions. To make a long story short, I banned discussion of the RKBA from CJUST-L, directing those interested in pursuing the topic to other existing lists dedicated to that topic. CJUST-L in the post-RKBA days did fairly well, even flourishing for awhile. These days it's bogged down again, not with RKBA but with the War on Drugs (WOD). Again, this is a hot-button topic and minds will not be (easily) changed. What's exacerbating the problem this time is the fact that there are a small number of people on one side of the battle who post each and every day up to their prescribed limit (2 posts) using those posts to hammer away repeatedly at the WOD, the people (gov't/police) they blame for related problems, and insulting (in a refined, veiled way) folks who disagree with them. Again, people are unsubscribing in droves and others, who might otherwise have posted, are being intimidated into silence. My dilemma is that I see value in the open exchange of information yet understand that in practice it can't work unless those involved in the exchange truly want it open. Closed minds, anecdotal evidence used to support sweeping generalizations, etc., serve to undermine the goal of having a forum for academic discussion. People with political agendas work for change, not to add useful information to the knowledge base. And what is academic discussion anyway? Is it restricted to academics, to people with some demonstrated affiliation with an academic institution or similar? Or does it describe discussion conducted with a certain type of methodology, such that anyone can participate as long as they do it in a certain kind of way, perhaps utilizing a given format? I want to make CJUST-L more useful to criminal justice academics and practitioners. I want it to be a place where peers can discuss their research or comment on trends in the context of a shared, informed understanding of the world and the criminal justice system. Right now I can't make that happen given prevailing conditions on the list. Has anyone else ever gone through a similar situation? How was it resolved? Has anyone ever come up with a template or definition of academic discussion in the mailing list context? Does anyone use rules or guidelines which dictate to some degree the form posts must take? I don't have the time to moderate CJUST-L or even REVIEW problem posters. I don't want to restrict membership by some artificial means such as requiring applicants to furnish documentation attesting to their academic affiliation. I do want to deter the uninformed and misinformed. Any thoughts, comments, suggestions or criticisms are welcome, on list or off. Thanks. - Alex, list owner of CJUST-L [log in to unmask] .................................................................... Alex Rudd [log in to unmask] ARS KA2ZOO {Standard Disclaimer} http://listserv.cuny.edu/archives/cjust-l.html