[MD] Nest of Vipers

[Arlo Bensinger]

[Mark]
You, 'must' chime in? Surely you have the option of not chiming in Arlo?

[Arlo]
Although I was away, I was contacted off-list by several of the involvees 
in this exchange. Since my stance was solicited, but never given 
publically, I felt I owed it to both Ant and Horse to make a public 
proclamation of where I stood.

[Mark]
I asked why the Baggini interview was not available on robertpirsig.org and 
moq.org.

[Arlo]
I was not singling any one out. There were several who felt it was a misuse 
of editorial rights not to print the "entire interview". There were several 
who felt it was not.

[Mark]
What previous silliness do you have in mind Arlo? Lying in, or asking 
questions in an open forum?

[Arlo]
The silliness that there is abusive editorial control that is either 
stifling or whitewashing the MOQ. This was hinted at in the exchanges.

[Mark]
I can only speak for myself Arlo, but i have questioned Anthony's editorial 
policy, not his rights. Do be clear.

[Arlo]
An editorial policy of his own site. That was my point.

[Mark]
I note you do not condemn editorial policy here. You condemn editorial control.

[Arlo]
Even Wikipedia has "editorial policy". I wonder if it is possible to every 
NOT have one. At any rate, I condemn (or would condemn) editorial control 
that extended beyond one's jurisdiction. Certainly Ant's site is within his 
jurisdiction. Mine would not  be.

[Mark]
The editorial policies of individuals is an appropriate issue of  debate. 
That individuals have a right to edit their own sites is not under  debate. 
(Remember i speak for myself and appeal to previous posts submitted by  me.)

[Arlo]
There was a lot of energy expended on what Ant "should" or "should not" do 
with regard to his site. A suggestion is a suggestion. Several went beyond 
that. If you feel yours did not, I make no argument.

[Mark]
For example, these sites cannot be relied upon to mention the 2005 
conference hoax paper.

[Arlo]
Why should they? If you feel the "hoax paper" is somehow critical, put it 
up on your website. At any rate, I googled "MOQ conference" today, and 
Glenn/Brad/Struan's site comes up ABOVE Ant's or Ian's. So anyone looking 
for that information will easily find it.

[Mark]
This statement in the context of criticising editorial policy is 
a  manifesto for controlled media: "Don't ask questions regarding Fox news 
editorial policy, buy your own news network if you don't like it!"

[Arlo]
Ant's site does not advertise to be something that it is not. And I do not 
like Fox's editorial policy, which is why I go elsewhere for my news. But 
it would be the height of arrogance to assume Fox News should change their 
policy because I tell them to. Not to mention that sites like Guerrilla 
News and other leftist news outlets did exactly what you are mocking. They 
saw a policy among the major news media they did not like, and they started 
their own oppositional sites.

[Mark]
This post is a drop in your own editorial standards Arlo IMHO.

[Arlo]
I'm sorry you feel that way, Mark. Despite disagreeing with you on this, I 
still find your posts of high quality.