| Dissolving confusion in the ranks of PLANS?
On the WC-list, some discussion has taken place on the main page of the section on the Waldorf movement at my site, in which also this comment can be found. The discussion was introduced Nov. 22 by Gary Bonhiver, co-moderator of the WC-list and co-webmaster of the site of PLANS. Maybe some comments can clarify the issues introduced by Gary and discussed on the WC-list with seemingly somewhat moved feelings from the officers of PLANS. For the posting in question, see here. The posting complains that I in the header of the main page in the original version of this section on Waldorf education at my site, as is the habit of publishers on the internet, put a number of key words, including the names of the main officers of PLANS, as they were mentioned at the page. The complaining posting by Gary argued that the use of keywords in the header of the page, reflecting the content of the page as it was at the time, was an "occult action" to promote secret religious beliefs into occult action. Against the background of normal way of using key words in the header of web pages, the comments stands out as somewhat hysterical, but reflects what probably to most outsiders stands out as the general hysterical spirit of the criticism, defamation, smear and libel cultivated by the core critics of Waldorf education on the list. Comment:
It was a section that I started to set up some time in May, while still participating in the discussion on the WC-list. I put it up as a personal page at my personal site, completely on my own initiative and paid by noone to do it, and announced on the WC-list on June 10 with *Subject: Some comments on PLANS
Sune Nordwall
In basically all subsequent (at least 123) postings from June up to September 2001 to the WC-list, of which Gary is a co-moderator, I linked to the page in question at the bottom of my postings for everyone to read. At its start as a comment page on PLANS, I put in the "key words", mentioned by Gary Bonhiver, in the head of the page. The first of them were copied directly from the "occult" head of the main page of PLANS. The following "key words" refer to persons and issues mentioned and/or discussed at the site of PLANS, that are directly or indirectly commented on at sub pages of the section. Later, I have rebalanced the main page and section to put its main focus on the Waldorf movement, while also developing and adding a number of sub pages in the section commenting on different issues raised by and discussed at the site of PLANS and on WC. When someone on WC commented on the description of the use of keywords in the header of the page by Gary, referring to what is discussed in the section, telling how irked he was to hear Gary describe the keywords as "sneaky", it was answered by the Secretary of PLANS, asking if it is common practice to put the names of people who "oppose your organization" as keywords in a page published by "the organization" in question. He also claimed that nothing should be said at the page in question about the by him alleged "controversy" that is the main issue of the group, for which he is Secretary. Some comments: - The page I have set up is not the page of any organization.
It is a completely personal page that I have set up completely on my own
personal initiative at my own personal site, without asking any person
or organization for advice or permission when setting it up and not doing
it as formal or hired representative of any organization.
- Much material in the section (where also this page can
be found) comments on issues raised at or discussed at the site of PLANS
and on WC, and the main page containing the keywords refers to the issues
and material at the site of PLANS discussed or commented on sub pages of
the section.
"In California, this in 1995 led to the formation of a small but vocal organisation in California (PLANS), critizising, smearing and campaigning against Waldorf education from combinations of outspoken rationalist, secular humanist and Left Wing, and Christian fundamentalist Right Wing positions."and linking to a page on PLANS describing and linking to further sub pages, commenting on PLANS, the material at its site and a number of the issues raised by PLANS and discussed on the WC-list. Judging from the comment by Dan Dugan on the page in question, he - while in July, four months earlier, commenting on it and expressing compliments on the list of links on it as "impressive" - seems to have forgotten this for some reason and not have looked at the page he comments on very closely again. It may also stand out as interesting that a co-webmaster of a website would be surprised at finding keywords in the header of a web page, referring to the material at the page in question and the sub pages linked to from it and the authors of the material on which the sub pages directly or indirectly comments. The keywords in the head of the main page of this section at my site, except for the material found at the site of PLANS or linked to from it, and the authors of the material in question, refers to persons who have chosen to publically represent PLANS. My personal page on PLANS links to the site of PLANS on which it comments. I invite the webmasters of PLANS to feel free and welcome to put up a comment on the page in question and the section on the Waldorf movement at my site at the site of PLANS and put my name as "key word" in the head of the main page of "waldorfcritics". I'd be honoured and obliged ;-) (Comment in July 2002: The main page of PLANS later has put up a link to a page at my site from the top of the main page of PLANS) Sune Nordwall |