Rhonda,
Thank you for setting up the Diversity Group. I have enjoyed being part of a smaller national group that is committed to both making diversity work, and getting Senator Obama elected as President. I have enjoyed having the group as a resource for useful information. There are plenty of chat and blog sites on the internet, very few are actually useful to getting much done. For much of the past year, the Diversity4Obama group was one of those happy exceptions.
I have worked on diversity issues for many years, and have found that one of the most important rules for dealing with sensitive issues is both a respect for all parties, and a responsibility by all to treat each other respectfully. If a member is not willing to conduct themselves in a respectful manner towards others, they cannot e part of a group that builds solutions. It is in this area that I have seen the Diversity4Obama group break down.
Over the past few weeks, I have seen the Diversity4Obama group devolve into a bickering, abusive, unproductive and email clogging mess. The group posts are being clogged by constant back and forth bickering and personal attacks.
The center of this activity has been with two posters. These two have abused their privileges, been involved in multiple arguments with multiple members, and basically clogged the system with petty comments and attacks. The group has attempted self policing with repeated requests that we stay on the issues of how to help the Senator, and to not make the group a place for rumor mongering. Each of these posters has responded with venom and anger to such requests for civility.
These two posters have each talked about leaving other groups because of complaints by other users. I completely believe this, and see a pattern. I would expect that they were blocked from other groups, and do not expect them to change. I strongly encourage you to block these users, and urge the rest of the group to treat each other respectfully.
I do not know if you are following the group, but I believe that this would make a massive improvement to the group, and help return it to being a product asset for the campaign.
I sincerely look forward to your response.
Be well,
Doug Williams
Atlanta GA
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