Re: [mpowr] Mailing List Management

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003, Harald Tveit Alvestrand wrote:

> Note that all of the "terrible" things you mention have happened
> WITHOUT an effective banning process.

Exactly. This implies, to me, that there will be even more violations
if the banning process is formalized but has cheap loopholes.

> I don't follow the logic....

If the rules of the games are unknown a priory but determined by the
Oracle on a case-by-case basis, a violator will think twice before
upsetting the Oracle because the Oracle may adapt and punish even more
severely. Violations will still happen, of course.

If the rules are formal and known a priory, a violator that found a
legal loophole, would be more inclined to use it because the rules
would prohibit the punishment (by loophole definition). More
violations (of the rules intent) will happen.

Thus, if we are going to formalize something, we must make sure there
are no cheap loopholes. If the latter is impossible, we may be better
of without formalization.

Think, for example, of US tax law: those with resources to find
loopholes pay no or lesser taxes and do not feel threatened or guilty.
One could argue that they are violating the [original] intent of the
law, but they certainly do not violate the law (by loophole
definition).

Alex.

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