I like the way we try and say this is not about persnalities!
Thinker’s post was about personalities and a pattern of behaviour
Mental’s post was too!
So let’s not hid behind neutrality here – that would be a convenient facade!
Personal attacks are being made on people’s character or conduct, and as one would expect there are responses.
I may not agree with my ‘rela’ Mental on many issues but on this one – I’m with you bro!
Rumour-mongering is rife – not much can be done about that.
Strive for quality and let the chips fall where they will!
My two cents.

There is a bit of confusion as to what the aggregator really is and the onus is on you to clarify that. So, the suggestions I make are really based on an assumption.

I agree with Mutumia but I see things slightly differently.

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If the aggregator is a tool for KBW then each and every single member’s blog has a right to be on its feeds list. Why? I think its not possible to talk about something being for the benefit of the community while its made only available to some members.

If the aggregator is intended to highlight certain blogs, then the admin team has free reign over which blogs can appear there. In this situation, it cannot be called a KBW aggregator.
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I prefer the first kind of aggregator because it gives visibility and a true “online meeting place for the diverse Kenyan visions, minds and voices that inhabit cyberspace”. I too had viewed the aggregator as such.

The responsibilities? They are the same as that of being a KBW member. IMHO, the key one is not to infringe on the rights of other KBW members. For instance, a blog that floods the aggregator would prevent other members from benefiting from it and thus infringe on their right to use it. In such a situation, it makes sense to have that blog off the aggregator but still in KBW.

True, not everything goes. A blog that posts hate literature and the like has no place on KBW because such things cannot even be remotely considered Kenyan in any way. So, the criteria is ‘Kenyan’.

Since the criteria is ‘Kenyan’ then a blog that criticises KBW or specific parts of it, no matter how unfarily, still has a place in the community.

This all depends on what the aggregator really is.

KBW Membership:
- (Benefit) All KBW members shall be listed on the KBW webring and page. (Responsibilities) All members should display the webring code on their pages. If after 3 reminders from KBW, member fails to comply, the membership is suspended until they put up the code OR shall be revoked and member will have to re-apply as a new member.
- Membership of KBW (and listing on the KBW webring)cannot be revoked because of content of posts.

Aggregator:
I now see your vision of the aggregator as a way for KBW to highlight certain blogs (kinda sorta like how Global Voices picks up a few blogs to highlight) . Up till now, I’ve been looking at it as a daily round-up of all new posts on the KBW blogs. Depending on which way the wind blows, we could do one of two things:-

1) Have all KBW members featured on the aggregator as an automatic benefit of membership. And the aggregator can also feature non-KBW blogs at KBW admin discretion. If we go with this option, then all blogs would automatically be featured on the aggregator and would only pull a blog if (going with Global Voices conditions and your reference to graphic rape photos here) “we are against racism and bigotry, and we are against violence and terrorism. We will avoid linking to bloggers who we think fall under this description.”.

OR
2) Have the Aggregator as a sort of “Admin Picks” in which case, we’d be treating it as an op-ed by Admin and what goes in and out is all editorial judgement.

Discuss.

While most people here may not tell you just how much effort you have put in, understand by their concern on Acolyte’s situation just how much they appreciate the KBW.

It is human nature to take things for granted, we never miss the water until the well runs dry.
You humbly feel we can have free use of your aggrregator then I and many others feel priviledged to use it. I believe a priviledge is not a right and if abused it can be taken away. Now unless Acolyte is paying for the service, surely if he abuses it the administrator/owner can expel him.

Mental, Acolyte and all those who have wronged you may never honestly say sorry, but could you find it in yourself to forgive them, then take the next step come up with standard operating procedures that explain your expectations as to whatever content should be on the aggregator. And henceforth expel all those who abuse the service.

I know I have no place in asking you for this, but letting the issue rest by accepting a handshake offered even though not sincerely will leave you a better person.

Thanks,

PS Did I say I highly appreciate your good work ?
Ken

Anyway back to the central question which i pose to both of you. If you feel that bloggers have a right to the aggregator do you also feel they have responsibilities to the aggregator? And if so what are those responsibilities?

Where did I sema I didnt read your post? Ebu, calm down and read what I wrote as slowly as I read your post to understand it.

I read it alright…I just couldn’t make head or tail of it. I hope what Shiroh pointed our will make you understand what I was trying to say (thanks for that gal).

At the end of the day, just like Aco, we appreciate the hard work you put into creating the webring and KBW as a whole. Its just a shame individuals don’t lead by example. Hence, pointing out what Uaridi put on Aco’s comment section.

I don’t want this matter to escalate to other levels. I have said what I have to say regarding the matter.

Have a good day!

The thing is we are KBW supporters, at least most of us. We agree that you and your team have put a lot for this webring to grow to the size. We have supported you through many detractors and so forth. We continue to be steadfast supporters. Initially we made sure every other member was supported when they joined the ring by commenting on their blogs and so forth.

We members too have contributed to the growth of KBW. We devote time to comment on blogs. We arrange meetups when possible.

However the arrogance showed by specifically Uaridi is disturbing and i guess that is what Mocha was trying to say.

The issue we are raising is

First: It was the ring code

Now it is a different ball game of emails and so forth.

Removing Acolyte from the aggregator might have no effect on his bloggin because many of whom read his blog will do so anyway.

It is in the manner it was done.

But thinking about it maybe you feel you owe nobody an explanation.

It’s possible that you feel attacked on a very personal level since you put all this together, not to mention that you’re paying an annual fee for hosting no doubt. If you were to step out of that, recognize that there are people out here that feel you on the job well done, but still feel that this Acolyte issue is raising a lot of questions, how would you change your above post? Be aware that I feel that you completely,have the right to kick people in and out as you please. Just communicate this to us clearly.