ELAYNA M. STIERHOFF





-----Original Message-----

From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of troy shively

Sent: Friday, February 9, 2018 1:51 PM

To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: [Ohio-birds] The Ohio Birds Listserv



Hello all,

I thought I would pass this along from Bill Whan since he cannot post it.  I don’t want to start another fight, I’m just passing along the information.  I’m sure both sides have their opinion on the subject, and I’m sure this will probably be my last listserv post, but I want to thank Bill for all of his wisdom over the years.  No one has taught me more about birds and ornithological history.   He is my mentor and close friend and I’m sad to see this.   I hope in the future we can learn to  communicate with each other better and learn that sometimes the “tone” of an email can be misread and the intent can be lost in perception.   I know many of us have known Bill for years and know he is a wonderful human being and has been misunderstood, often because of perception.  Please don’t email me back as I am not going to reply,  I really don’t want to start something.  I just want to raise a glass and thank Bill for 30 years of enjoyable information.  

Regrettably,

Troy



>>> Bill,

>>> As the owner of the Ohio birding listserv, the OOS is responsible 

>>> for managing the content of the published posts.  As part of that 

>>> responsibility, it reviews the content of controversial posts.  Your 

>>> recent barn owl posting has been reviewed and discussed by our Board.

>>> As you are aware, it angered and offended many members, causing some 

>>> to unsubscribe from the listserv.

>>> The listserv is intended to be a non-confrontational vehicle to 

>>> communicate rare bird information and to discuss Ohio's birds, 

>>> habitat, etc.  Though we appreciate that you have been a long-time 

>>> supporter of the listserv and are a well-respected member of Ohio's 

>>> birding community, the subject post has overstepped the bounds of 

>>> our listserv rules.  Many have enjoyed and been educated by your 

>>> interesting and historical posts over the years but many have also 

>>> felt that they sometimes cross the line of propriety based on the 

>>> intent of this listserv.  Most frustrating to us was that you often 

>>> refer readers to articles/documents with a link rather than by 

>>> transcribing them into the message.  Substituting a link for your 

>>> transcription with a warning note regarding the racial slur used in 

>>> the subject post could have achieved the results of sharing the 

>>> pertinent birding information without the shock and offense it ultimately created.

>>> We feel that allowing any similar content to be posted could further 

>>> damage the credibility of the listserv and the OOS.  In the best 

>>> interest of the Ohio Listserv and its members, we have suspended 

>>> your participation/membership on the listserv for six months, to 

>>> begin today February 8, 2018.  If you wish to rejoin after the six 

>>> month suspension, you will be immediately reinstated with the 

>>> understanding that you will adhere to the listserv posting rules.  

>>> Subsequent violations of the listserv rules could result in permanent suspension.

>>> We are disappointed in having to take this action but do so in the 

>>> interests of our membership.

>>> 

>>> OOS Board of Directors

>>> 

>>> 

>>> 

>>> 



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______________________________________________________________________



Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.

Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php.

Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.





You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:

listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS

Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]