response 25 of 69:

Feb 15 19:59 UTC 1997

I will be voting for this compromise, because it is sensitive to the desires
of a small but non-trivial portion of Grex. I would prefer to see it be
completely open, but not enough to vote againsst this. I will vote for a
completely open policy  only if this one fails, because I think it is more
important to be openly visible than it is to keep that small but non-trivial
portion of Grex.  I feel that this compromise, if it passes, will give both.

response 27 of 69:

Feb 16 05:58 UTC 1997

Hmmm. Well to me not all traffic is the same. If we were to increase the 
traffic to the conferences (reading or writing) this is a better use of 
the bandwidth (from the POV of the Grex community) tham private e-mail. 
And private e-mail is a much bigger traffic problem. 

I am not advocating that we shouldn't also provide mail, but only that a 
shift in the bandwidth towards spending more on conferencing would seem 
a good thing, at least to me.

response 29 of 69:

Feb 16 18:59 UTC 1997

As one who was in the past recipient of an anonymously-donated membership,
I'd also like to resent (on jenna's behalf) that remark.  Even supposing
that someone donated that membership partly because of jenna's views on
this one issue, this is pretty unlikely to turn on one vote; and jenna's
entitled to vote (or not!) as she sees fit, not receiving any incentive
*herself* to speak of from it.  She's certainly been here contributing to
the discussion in a reasonable way, and (I think) has actually influenced
people's views (in a *positive* way, I mean) by her contributions - which
is more than I can say for Richard, on this or most any issue.

(On the basis of past performance, Richard misinterpreted intentionally
but will deny that he meant anything personal, I expect.  Consider the
source.)

response 31 of 69:

Feb 16 19:59 UTC 1997

And besies, if Grex does not allow people to buy membershps for themselves
anonymously, it should not approve of any memberships being paid for
anonymously.  I dont agree with that policy, but if you are not going to
allow it in one respect, be consistent and dont allow it at all.

Seriously grex has so many active non-members that all it would take to pad
a balot box and swing votes is one deep-pocketed user willing to blow a few
hundredbucks for a change in policy.

The spirit of thebylaws certainly seems to imply anyway that one needs to be
a member for three months before voting, not simmply pay three months
menbership and vote right away.

response 33 of 69:

Feb 16 22:38 UTC 1997

Re 31 - We don't allow anonymous memberships because of the
need for ID, in case the member does something nasty with their
Internet access and we need to be able to find them.  (Or possibly
assist the police in finding them.)  That doesn't preclude people
from anonymously supplying money for someone who is willing to
provide ID.  (Which I'm sure jenna is.)  I don't see your logic
there, richard, but then I never do.

(Besides, maybe one day you'll be the lucky recipient of an
anonymous membership...)

response 35 of 69:

Feb 17 02:18 UTC 1997

oh I think sponsoring other people's memberships is a nice thing.  I just
think it doesnt look good when it appears to have been done for specific
reasons.  This person could have bought Jenna AZ membership three or six
month sago or  a year ago, but no Jenna gets her membership immediately as
this vote is taking place.  IN fact, robh, since you are good friends with
Jenna and since you have said you will resign from the board if the vote
doesnt come out your way, I think you are the strongest suspect as the
anonymous donor.  YOu have motives to influence this vote as much as
anyone.  If it is you,m why dont you admit it?

Actually, I think if the idea is to encourage new members, theboard could
give away an occasional three month membership.  A couple of times a year
take down the names of those interested in receiving such, put them in a
hat at a board meeting and draw a winner.  That person could be a member
for three months and if they like being one, they can then pay to renew
their membership.  This would or could end up with grex having members it
wouldnt otherwise have.  .  And it is fairer than giving one a membership
because you know how they wil vote on a pending policy matter.

response 37 of 69:

Feb 17 03:07 UTC 1997

Hmm indeed.

Richard, if I had been the person who made the donation for jenna's
membership, I *would* admit it.  I'd be trumpeting it to the skies,
amd doing the same for brighn and selena.  I'm sure you're the only
person who seriously suspects me of doing so, and I honestly don't
give a toss what you think of me.

(In fact, wasn't it $60 that was donated for jenna?  If I were going
to do that, I'd donate $18 each for jenna, brighn, and selena, and
buy three votes instead of one, while saving $6.  >8)

response 39 of 69:

Feb 17 05:39 UTC 1997

For what it's worth, I received the money for jenna's membership before the
vote was started, so once again I see no connection.  To answer your question
of how jenna couldn't know the donor, Richard:  the donor contacted me and
I contacted jenna.

robh's analysis odf the difference between an anonymous membership and an
anonymous gift was quite good, I thought - you are confusing two different
things which both happen to have the word "anonymous" in them, Richard.  They
are really quite different.

response 41 of 69:

Feb 17 19:36 UTC 1997

Believe it or not Rickie, if one of my close friends had
done it i think they would have told me. tjhehey're all broke
anyway. People have sent me valuable things before. One guy from
a mailing list sent me30$ worth of new comic books and didn't want them abk...
someone gave me just about every thng they'd ever written
(handwritten, original copies) ... it;'s not the weirdest thing
in the world and if it is a friend they probably didn't tell
m,e because I have a hard time accepting money and it probavly
doesn't have anything to do with this vote or if it does its from
someone who supports my stated point of view AN WANTS Me to act
upon it. that's not buying my vote, it's buying my right to vote.

response 43 of 69:

Feb 18 15:52 UTC 1997

Me too. :)

response 45 of 69:

Feb 18 22:38 UTC 1997

you like Books iof Magic, adbarr?  ;}

response 47 of 69:

Feb 19 20:08 UTC 1997

#46...Jan, I guess it takes one t know one *shrug*

response 49 of 69:

Feb 19 23:38 UTC 1997

Just for the record, I'm the one who gave a membership to Jenna.  I had
no ulterior motive except to do GREX and Jenna a favour.  Jenna is a
well spoken person who thinks her ideas through and I think GREX needs more
people like her.  I've been known to give memberships to people before, but
this is the first time anyone even acknoledged it, much less impuned my
motives.

Welcome to grex Jenna.  Just so you know, I wanted you to be a member in spite
of your views on the current fracas.  I can admire people without agreeing
with them, you see.  I like you because you seem to share that trait.

Respectfully,
A. Nonny Mouse