Theos-Talk Archives (July 2010 Message tt00100)

MKR are wrote:
"Thanks goes to Eldon
and his predecessor for their foresight."

On this I will agree. Thanks.
Other maillists might serve a different purpose ethically speaking.
And they may each of them operate in a beneficial manner. And they may not.
This aught to be considered.


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: MKR 
  To: theos-talk 
  Sent: Saturday, July 24, 2010 3:03 PM
  Subject: Theos-World Public Access to Theosophical Forums


    
  Recently, when I visited a theosophical discussion forum, I noticed that the
  contents are accessible only to those who have signed up, while some time
  back it was open to anyone in cyberspace. I was surprised.

  It was the wisdom of the Founders that TS was setup as a uniquely democratic
  organization. (There are some operational issues, I will discuss later.)
  Transparency is a built-in protection to keep democratic organizations
  strong and on track. For example, all proceedings of the US Congress and US
  Senate take place in public and broadcast live for the entire country to
  see.

  Typically, anytime any organization or its leaders get involved in decisions
  about public access to information and views and discussions about it, there
  is a natural predisposition to limit access because it serves the purposes
  of the leadership and (their imagined) welfare of the organization.

  It may be recalled that years ago TSA tried to setup a fully moderated
  maillist and it fell on its face due to lack of participation. Those in
  charge at that time did not learn the lesson and remove the moderation and
  make it flourish; but it died a natural demise. It is possible that fear of
  openness and its consequences may be behind the decision.

  Right now, in one of the National Sections, election of the General
  Secretary is going on. While there is some Internet discussion is going on,
  it is restricted to only the members, again showing the organizational
  predisposition. Transparency in discussions can only help the Section and
  the candidates. No one should be afraid of discussion which may bring up
  facts and questions and views.

  In any open organization, discussion about it and its present and
  potentially future leadership in public will protect against unwise and self
  serving decisions being made due to lack of information and facts. Without
  open discussions on Internet forums in 2008, no one knows what would be the
  current status of TS today if the sitting International President was not
  re-elected and also what might have happened if the ill fated ultra-secret
  disenfranchisement attempt was not broadcast to the world with the help of
  Internet.

  The messages and archives of this and its predecessor maillist have always
  been public and open to anyone to access. It was one of the wisest decisions
  that has helped world-wide participation and in the opinion of many members,
  one of the greatest protections for theosophy and TS. Thanks goes to Eldon
  and his predecessor for their foresight.

  MKR

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]