[Fmpro] Announcement from the Film Music ProList Administrator

[Mark Northam]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: fmpro-bounces+markn=gmocorp.com at nxport.com [mailto:fmpro-
> bounces+markn=gmocorp.com at nxport.com] On Behalf Of Pete
> Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 6:12 PM
> To: fmpro at nxport.com
> Subject: Re: [Fmpro] Announcement from the Film Music ProList
Administrator
> 
> --- Mark Northam wrote:
> > Doug's done a lot of good things for composers, as I pointed
> > out, but he disrespected this list in its entirety with his
> > statements, then refused to defend or retract them, and that's what got
> > him into trouble.
> 
> I don't think Doug Wood ever disrespected the list in it's entirety! He
said...
> 
> >I urge readers of this list to be wary of some of the angry anti-
> >ASCAP diatribes posted here, and to take some of the vague
> >insinuations, wild accusations and snide "insider" information with
> >a grain of salt.
> 
> If you're not posting angry anti-ASCAP diatribes, vague insinuations, wild
> accusations, or snide "insider" information, he wasn't talking about YOU.
He even
> said "some", which implys that some of the list's anger is justified. It's
up to each
> reader to decide. It's completely naive to insist there isn't false or
mis-guided
> information posted here, or anywhere else on the internet.

Pete, I don't think you quite yet understand what went wrong here. Doug had
every right to make accusations, as long as he was specific about who he was
accusing and what specific activities or posts he was accusing them of - if
you're going to start throwing stones, you had better define who you're
throwing them at, especially when doing so in an online community where
people do not easily tolerate unsubstantiated accusations. But he did
EXACTLY what he was accusing the list of - he made insinuations and
accusations - but wasn't willing to back them up with specifics. We all have
to stand on what we say in life, and of course nobody has perfect
information and is 100% correct all the time - especially when the PROs
promise transparency, but then refuse to answer so many questions and leave
us to speculate as to what the truth exactly is about many issues of
critical importance to the industry. But there's a big, big difference from
pointing out specific information that may by incorrect or incomplete (a
constructive and helpful act), and making blanket, severe accusations
against vaguely defined groups of people (a destructive act).

Yes, there's some anger here from time to time - what do you expect from an
industry of composers who are systematically discriminated against by ASCAP
when it comes to the distribution of hundreds of millions of dollars each
year, due to things like the stereotyping weighting formulas that devalue
all background instrumental music within television shows at the stroke of a
pen - policies, which have never, ever been defended by a single person from
ASCAP that I know of. 

But because someone is angry because they've been discriminated against or
for whatever other reason, that doesn't mean their facts are wrong, it just
means they're angry. And that kind of insidious "angry poster = invalid
facts = ignore this person" connection that is attempted on this list from
time to time, likely to deflect or avoid discussing highly controversial
issues and policies, just doesn't work any more - especially here with the
amount of verified, fully documented information that has been published
here and elsewhere. 

If Doug, you, or anyone else believes that a post is factually wrong, then
let's have an honest, open debate about the specific issues involved. And
you and I have had some very pointed discussions about facts and specifics,
Pete, and that's fine and good. But honest debate and dialogue is impossible
when someone takes broad swipes at discrediting people and refuses to
provide any specifics.

By making very severe charges against a wide, vageuly defined group of
people and refusing to back them up with a single specific instance despite
being asked to do so twice, Doug engaged in behavior that the list
administrator, Mark Holden, found unacceptable. It's Mark Holden who makes
these decisions and is the sole arbiter of keeping this place civil - any
issues you have with his decision should be directed at him. From where I'm
standing, it was a stupid thing for Doug to do in an online industry
community, especially given how much information composers want to know but
are denied by ASCAP. I can't begin to understand why he did this, and I've
known him for many years, since before the FMPRO list existed. He could have
solved this situation very easily by specifying who he was targeting with
his accusations when asked to, or simply withdrawing them if he wasn't ready
to name names or specific acts or posts he was accusing of being "vague
insinuations" or "wild accusations".

That being said, if Doug is ready to withdraw his accusations entirely, or
is willing to name names and specifics to support his accusations and give
those accused an opportunity and dialogue in which to respond to him and
defend themselves against whatever accusations he's making in the same forum
that he made the accusations in (this list, that is), I would support ending
his suspension to the list as soon as he's ready to do so, but the ultimate
decision is Holden's.

Best,

Mark Northam