The Center for Media Alternatives of Quebec has managed to determine a procedure to put an end to the recent abuses which undermine the public space which is its Internet site. Consequently, the editorial policy of the CMAQ was amended and a series of technical changes now affect the operation of the site...

The Center for Media Alternatives of Quebec has managed to determine a procedure to put an end to the recent abuses which undermine the public space which is its Internet site. Consequently, the editorial policy of the CMAQ was amended and a series of technical changes now affect the operation of the site.

The Context of Open Publication

The CMAQ team defends the freedom of expression insofar as it promotes a greater justice between the members of our society. This freedom should not be exerted at the expense of others.

Thus, any submission to ‘cmaq.net’, the contents or intentions of which are obviously racist, sexists, homophobic, hateful or defamatory will be excluded from the site by the members of the validation committee.

In a democratic preoccupation with transparency, the vast majority sites on the Indymedia network have a hidden section ("hidden zone") or section for rejected submissions. The CMAQ, not making exception, has such a section; "the Dungeon".

A Recent Series of Abuses

A recent series of abuses forced the CMAQ team to redefine the limits of what it considers acceptable.

These abuses were characterized by a disproportionate volume of submissions; tainted submissions consisting of false pretenses, misinformation, slander, overt insults towards other users, and systematic violation of the article in CMAQs’ editorial policy which relates to the publication of sexist material.

The credibility and quality of the CMAQ was threatened by this situation and by the reputations that were tarnished.

The CMAQ also wishes to make a point of formally apologizing to the people who were affected by attacks which had no place amongst our publications. This apology is addressed in particular to M. Martin Dufresne, secretary of the Male Collective Against Sexism, who was a victim of slander by another user.

Sexist Speech

Women still face (with children) the most serious consequences of marital violence and it is with them that the parental responsibilities generally fall. Women are still too often paid less than their male colleagues for equivalent work. To deny this reality amounts to sexism.

We do not deny that men can be victims of injustices as well, as men face their own challenges and problems, notably those associated with the redefinition of their role. But the personal experiences of injustices lived by men do not authorize those individuals to a legitimacy with which to attack the assets of women, nor the work of feminists.

It is thus impossible for us to continue to tolerate the diffusion of messages which promote of an essentially sexist conception of cross-gender relations.

Obviously, we remain open to criticism that is respectful of women and feminism, and to the constructive denunciation of injustices of which men are victims.

Changes Adopted:

On Wednesday July 16, 2003, the CMAQ enacted a series of reforms to its operation, as follows:

Comments:

The CMAQ will no longer be a forum for users to trade insults. The publication of comments is now possible, even with the anonymous users, only insofar as these comments contribute constructively to the debate raised by the original submission. This policy will apply from now on to all comments. Any comment that is sexist, racist, homophobic, defamatory or hateful WILL BE ERASED by the CMAQ validation team, without warning. This moderation will be done a posteriori. This policy has been applied retroactively to content already on the site. To help maintain this policy, we invite CMAQ users to subject their complaints concerning any future abuse to the editorial staff.

Moreover, the "comments" function will be deactivated for submissions awaiting validation, and inappropriate submissions rejected.

The Rejected Submissions Section:

The link between the “Dungeon�? is now in the “Editorial Policy" section. The section has been renamed "Rejected Submissions". These measures will be used to limit the attention paid to this section, and to eliminate any ambiguity as to its nature and function.

“The which have been sent to the dungeon remain viewable on the site. Democratic transparency and public access to submission made on the CMAQ site remain our valued fundamental policies. However, rejected submissions will from now on be organized:

The tenders contravening articles 1 (relevance), 4 (illegibility) and 5 (duplication) of the leading policy will placed in a separate section of rejected submissions. Only the titles of submissions which contravene articles 2 (slandering, hatred, sexism, etc.) and 3 (violation of the royalties) will remain visible. The contents of articles belonging to this last category will be placed in another section with restricted access. To consult this section, users will have to make a justified request, and must include a valied e-mail address. Requests must be addressed to the editorial committee of the CMAQ.

Exclusion of a User:

During the last two months, the user Yves Pageau, as well as submitting a large volume of provocative submissions with sexist content (and not much else), systematically defamed and disparaged another user, with no excuse nor apology for his false assertions. It was therefore decided that the user number associated with his name, as well as all open accounts and/or addresses of mail submitted by Mr. Pageau will henceforth be deactivated.

Finally, we wish to thank CMAQ users for their patience with regard to the editorial committee of the collective. The democratic process s difficult, and sometimes takes more time than we would like.

We trust that the changes enacted reflect the will and the values of the majority of the users of the CMAQ.