RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re-Negative Postiing

Dear Bola and Samuel:

 

Many thanks for your great postings, with intellectual precision!  From what I also know, SIR Toyin has NO time to be either a Dctator or a Gatekeeper. Sir Toyin? I have, sometimes, sent a posting, and I asked him in a few seconds to stop it from being posted; his response has often been that he had no control to stop it, and that once posted, that is it! If he wanted to be a Gatekeeper or a Dictator (as we know both to be as Africans from dictatorial environments), SIR Toyin could have had the mechanism to stop or re-shape some postings!

 

I remember when one of our brothers recently described Ghana as "even Ghana". We took him on until we realized that he did not mean much harm, as he himself later posted a confession that he visits Ghana often to enjoy the delicious food, the peaceful society, the limited economic prosperity and, possibly, the beautiful women!:-) Therefore, some things are said in jest, but once we start insulting others, as if they have no right to/at free speech, then we are crossing a very dim line!

 

SIR Toyin, some of us will send you "a big stick" (baton rouge in French) to start spanking outlaw steers, who get out of line, just as we were spanked during colonial school days! That, too, is a joke! Otherwise, my dear "old" Baba Ijebu would have wagged his middle right finger and, in real seriousness, asked: "Gatekeeper, ke?" Or "Dictator, ke?"

 

A.B. Assensoh.  

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From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] on behalf of Bola Dauda [boladauda@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, April 06, 2015 6:15 AM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re-Negative Postiing

Dear Chidi,

I would like to say there is a wide world of difference between a "gatekeeper mentality" and a moderator making a request for decorum! I detest any form of mentality that deprives anyone the use of discretion or common sense. So if Prof Falola had not used his discretion I would be with you in detestation of gatekeeper mentality. But in this matter, and in his plea I think he has not behaved as anyone without a common sense!

You have all the rights in the world to "detest all forms of gatekeepers' mentality" but to consider Prof Toyin Falola's request as "unilaterally declaring other people's post here, negative or positive is one of such [gatekeeper mentality]" seems to me totally out of order.

Samuel has drawn on the authority of intellectual disciplines of sociology and anthropology to support the principle that all human associations operate on rules and norms of behavior. But if you don't appreciate the job of gatekeeping or you don't recognize the dignity of labor, it may interest you to note that armed robbers have codes of conduct for their members, and I know prostitutes too have their codes. And having been a taxi driver for over seven years I also know garage boys and touts have rules guiding those of us who are taxi drivers. I knew the rule for prostitutes because I once considered being one. I couldn't follow the rules for armed robbers, so I couldn't be an armed robber.

Please, note that while you are free to detest gatekeeping mentality, by all means, don't in any way bring down this Forum to a level we cannot read to our grandchildren, or insult Professor Toying by implying he is dictator that is unilaterally overruling with a gatekeeper mentality!

Many thanks.

On 5 April 2015 at 21:38, Samuel Zalanga <szalanga@bethel.edu> wrote:

In my assessment, sociologically and anthropologically, no society or community can function without norms. Norms in sociological and anthropological sense are forms of gate-keeping. Without them, communities cannot function well, whether such communities are utopias of the right or utopias of the left.. 

We can talk about norms that are either comprehensive or not, fair or unfair, just or unjust, etc. But on the question of whether communities starting from small groups to larger organizations can function without gate-keeping (i.e., normative control), the answer is no. There are many research studies in social psychology about how groups function. Even when they have great potentials, laissez faire type groups always end up being unproductive. 

 Norms are what help us make sense of what we see or hear etc. when we relate to each other. Unfortunately no one has the monopoly of the capacity to insult another even when the person can come up with a justification for their use of the language. Language is not own by one person but by a community of people. In many contexts, to be able to communicate in a very civil manner even under deliberate provocation is a great sign of self-control. 

So from an anthropological and sociological point of view, the idea of living in a real world without some gate-keeping is utopian even if it may initially appear desirable. As I said, we can debate whether the gate-keeping is fair or just etc, but we cannot afford to live without one.

Samuel

On Sat, Apr 4, 2015 at 9:40 PM, Chidi Anthony Opara <chidi.opara@gmail.com> wrote:

As a person, I detest all forms of gatekeepers' mentality and unilaterally declaring other people's post here, negative or positive is one of such.

CAO.

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Samuel Zalanga
Department of Anthropology, Sociology & Reconciliation Studies
Bethel University, 3900 Bethel Drive #24
Saint Paul, MN 55112.
Office Phone: 651-638-6023

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