Here's something I've done on other lists with a person who annoys a lot 
of other readers:

(1) Allow that person to read the list but not write to it (I'm calling 
that person "former subscriber" below).  I think we have a list archive, 
and that woud be good enough if it is updated quickly.  I guess it is 
quite good:

http://archives.mn-linux.org/pipermail/tclug-list/

(2) Identify someone (called the intermediary) on the list who is willing 
to work with the former subscriber.  The intermediary would forward 
appropriate messages to the list for the former subscriber.

That puts a buffer between the former subscriber and the list, but it 
doesn't overburden the administrator with a moderator responsibility. 
Intermediaries do this willingly and are free to resign if they want to.

If the intermediary has good answers to some of the easier questions that 
might be unlikely to generate a useful discussion, then he or she might 
just answer the question without posting it.

Mike


On Mon, 31 Mar 2014, Rick Tanner wrote:

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>
> As requested, I'm speaking here as one of the mailing list
> administrators -- and *NOT* moderator (please keep reading..) or not
> as a subscriber.
>
>
> For the most recent events from March-30-2014, since it seemed a
> flamewar was well on it's way, I stepped forward and placed the
> moderation setting on a particular subscriber.
>
> Next topic.
>
> The TCLUG-list has no content or subscriber moderators.
>
> Here's why:
>
> Anytime there has been an issue or problem, the list has moderated
> itself.
>
> Other subscribers speak up on what they want to see changed and make
> suggestions for such change.  Others chime in and a general consensus
> is met. The concept of netiquette prevails.
>
> Do you, as list subscribers, want a person or people in charge of
> moderating content?
>
> If so, then the list needs to agree on what is acceptable and not
> acceptable to post in the list and a course of action to take when the
> unacceptable happens. And another thing to keep in mind, any policy
> creation will need to retroactively apply to all subscribers on the
> list now. How well is that going to be received?
>
> If this should proceed, then how are moderators chosen?
> I.e., nomination and voting or strictly volunteer or some other
> method? How many are allowed?
>
> And the "other duties" such as: (to name a few)
>
>  * How are tasks tracked between moderators to make sure one does not
> undo the work of the others?
>  * Is there a need for any kind of audit trail for moderators and
> their moderation actions?
>  * Is there a chain of command between moderators?
>  * How are disagreements and policy discussion between moderators
> handled?
>  * What course of actions can a subscriber take dispute a moderation
> ruling?
>  * How is such a dispute handled?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> So, as a list administrator, what do we do?
>
> As list administrators, we make sure the list is available, as in up &
> running. Email posts come in, they get distributed to subscribers and
> a copy is made available in the mailing list archives. We reject the
> 20 to 30 spam messages per day that try to make it to the list and in
> very rare cases manually unsubscribe or subscribe someone for numerous
> reasons per their request.  We are either invisible, or in trouble. ;-)
>
>
>
> - --
> Rick Tanner <rick at real-time.com>      | Phone : (952) 943-8700
> http://www.real-time.com              | Fax :   (952) 943-8500
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