The Massachusetts discussion was a good one. Unfortunately, some CT Birds discussions in the past have devolved into negativity and personal attacks. And you don’t have to look far to find that the bird names debate has gotten a bit ugly on other listservs. As moderator, I have a responsibility to keep our list on track for its stated purpose, and after a few back-and-forth emails on bird names last year I asked to close the topic. No one here (except Mark) complained that the discussion should continue. This list had its beginnings as a bird sightings system. The main purpose of the list was for birders to share sightings of notable birds and remarkable observations. It was not meant to be a place where debates are held and frustrations vented. When I took this role, I heard it loud and clear from the Connecticut birding community that they were tired of all the negativity and debates. I stand by my decision to close the topic and I take exception to that being characterized as an act of cowardice. Closing a topic is just a moderator being a moderator. Chuck Imbergamo CT Birds Moderator Madison > On Jan 24, 2024, at 10:47 PM, Mark Szantyr via CTBirds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> wrote: > It seems that our neighboring state to the north not only endorses conversation about controversial issues in birding and ornithology, it has gone deep into the waters to ensure both sides have a way to express their thoughts, ideas, and feelings. Congratulations Massachusetts on being the adult in the room. No matter how this resolves, you have played a role in the democratic process. Maybe you can spread the word that controversy need not be bad but that it can promote growth of a healthy organization. I am a bit ashamed of our Connecticut list for its cowardice in the face of an important ornithological issue. > Mark Szantyr > Storrs, CT > > > > > Begin forwarded message: > >> From: phawk254@comcast.net >> Date: January 24, 2024 at 9:49:03 PM EST >> To: massbird@world.std.com >> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Thank you Re: Changing Birds Names >> Reply-To: phawk254@comcast.net >> >>  >> I'd like to thank and congratulate MassBird contributors (and the moderator) for by-and-large excellent posts supporting and opposing the AOS decision to change eponymous bird names. >> Some birding listservs have forbidden further discussion of the topic due to the shrill, often antagonistic quality of many posts. I've gained insights from most of the MassBird posts on this subject, for and against, for which I am grateful and greater insight than I have found on any single website. Posts on some other listservs lent much more heat than light to the issue, occasionally turning quite juvenile. Most MassBird posts on the subject have been well thought out and shed significant light without the heat. These qualities are becoming all too rare on most social media these days. >> Thank you for elevating the discussion rather than reducing it to polemics. Your posts are why we need to actively encourage birders to continue to use such listservs as a means of birding community communication and education. >> >> Gratefully, >> Paul >> >> Paul M. Roberts >> Medford, MA >> phawk254@comcast.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send an email with just "join" or "leave" in the subject or body to: ctbirds-request@lists.ctbirding.org > > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ > > CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it… Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS On Thursday, January 25, 2024, 7:35 AM, Chuck Imbergamo via CTBirds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> wrote: The Massachusetts discussion was a good one.  Unfortunately, some CT Birds discussions in the past have devolved into negativity and personal attacks.  And you don’t have to look far to find that the bird names debate has gotten a bit ugly on other listservs. As moderator, I have a responsibility to keep our list on track for its stated purpose, and after a few back-and-forth emails on bird names last year I asked to close the topic.  No one here (except Mark) complained that the discussion should continue. This list had its beginnings as a bird sightings system.  The main purpose of the list was for birders to share sightings of notable birds and remarkable observations.  It was not meant to be a place where debates are held and frustrations vented. When I took this role, I heard it loud and clear from the Connecticut birding community that they were tired of all the negativity and debates. I stand by my decision to close the topic and I take exception to that being characterized as an act of cowardice.  Closing a topic is just a moderator being a moderator. Chuck Imbergamo CT Birds Moderator Madison > On Jan 24, 2024, at 10:47 PM, Mark Szantyr via CTBirds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> wrote: > It seems that our neighboring state to the north not only endorses conversation about controversial issues in birding and ornithology, it has gone deep into the waters to ensure both sides have a way to express their thoughts, ideas, and feelings. Congratulations Massachusetts on being the adult in the room. No matter how this resolves, you have played a role in the democratic process. Maybe you can spread the word that controversy need not be bad but that it can promote growth of a healthy organization.  I am a bit ashamed of our Connecticut list for its cowardice in the face of an important ornithological issue. > Mark Szantyr > Storrs, CT > > > > > Begin forwarded message: > >> From: phawk254@comcast.net >> Date: January 24, 2024 at 9:49:03 PM EST >> To: massbird@world.std.com >> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Thank you Re: Changing Birds Names >> Reply-To: phawk254@comcast.net >> >>  >> I'd like to thank and congratulate MassBird contributors (and the moderator) for by-and-large excellent posts supporting and opposing the AOS decision to change eponymous bird names. >>  Some birding listservs have forbidden further discussion of the topic due to the shrill, often antagonistic quality of many posts. I've gained insights from most of the MassBird posts on this subject, for and against, for which I am grateful and greater insight than I have found on any single website. Posts on some other listservs lent much more heat than light to the issue, occasionally turning quite juvenile. Most MassBird posts on the subject have been well thought out and shed significant light without the heat. These qualities are becoming all too rare on most social media these days. >>    Thank you for elevating the discussion rather than reducing it to polemics. Your posts are why we need to actively encourage birders to continue to use such listservs as a means of birding community communication and education. >> >> Gratefully, >> Paul  >> >> Paul M. Roberts >> Medford, MA >> phawk254@comcast.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send an email with just "join" or "leave" in the subject or body to: ctbirds-request@lists.ctbirding.org > > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ > > CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send an email with just "join" or "leave" in the subject or body to: ctbirds-request@lists.ctbirding.org CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/