Re: disinterested chairing [was Re: summary="" in HTML5]

Removing public-html from Cc list per Sam's request.

On Feb 26, 2009, at 4:26 PM, Robert J Burns wrote:

> Hi Sam,
>
> On Feb 26, 2009, at 11:53 AM, Sam Ruby wrote:
>
>> Robert J Burns wrote:
>> [snip]
>>
>> I request that no replies to either Robert's email or mine copy the  
>> public-html mailing list.
>>
>> If there are concerns about my suitability as chair, please forward  
>> them to Philippe Le Hégaret.  If you wish such interactions to be a  
>> matter of the public record, feel free to copy www-archive[2].
>
> Again, I think you're attributing words and sentiments to me that I  
> did not express. I said nothing in my email that suggested you were  
> unsuitable to be chair. On the contrary, on other fora I have  
> expressed my joy at hearing of your appointment. What I said in a  
> nutshell was that it is better for a chair – including you as a  
> suitable chair – to be even-handed in stopping unproductive and  
> inappropriate activity. Clearly we all have biases, but as a chair,  
> one needs to be able to control those biases and be even-handed.  
> Moreover, by taking and characterizing my remarks as a personal  
> attack – which I had no intention to make it one – it raises the  
> level of contention rather than lowering it. And the HTML WG, more  
> than others I've seen, certainly needs the level of contention  
> diminished.

My impression is that Sam has been relatively evenhanded in correcting  
people who are engaging in unproductive behavior. I say this as one of  
the people who has personally experienced a few whacks of the cluebat.

On the whole, I think Sam's campaign against disruptive behavior makes  
the list a more positive discussion environment, and leads people who  
might be discouraged or unconstructive to contribute positively.

And Rob, I think calling people malicious is clearly a personal attack  
and cannot be taken any other way.

Regards,
Maciej