Message-ID: <199912121730.MAA42834@pilot016.cl.msu.edu> Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 12:30:58 -0500 From: Donald Z Osborn <mailto:osborndo@PILOT.MSU.EDU> Subject: Perspective on Devel-L To: mailto:DEVEL-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
Usually I try to sit out & delete periodic brouhahas and reactions one will encounter on even the best unmoderated lists, but I hope you will forgive this old-timer for posting some observations.1. I participated in Devel-L a number of years ago when it was one of the most active and informative e-fora on development. In the intervening time (2 years - in cyber time as in "dog years" that's a real long time) much has changed in the internet. Devel-L has proven a good source for some info since I've been been back but some other aspects of the list have made me wonder if I shouldn't have suggested it to some people recently.
2. I know and respect Kerry from previous interaction on development-related lists and I believe I have seen worthy posts from Douglas in the past as well (though my memory for names is not so good). It puzzled and pained me to see the exchange between them take the turn it did. Without taking sides I might suggest that in a list for talking about development, talking about talking about development eventually becomes just talking about talking, and that is bound to frustrate some and annoy others - no matter how valid the philosophical point might be. Perhaps it might help if Kerry gives a brief summary of or reference for what I'm guessing is some academic work on electronic communications (?) to help give some of us (or is it just me?) a better understanding of what the underlying idea was - and then let us get back to talking (whatever one takes it to mean) and exchanging information about technology transfer in development.
3. Regarding expletives and slurs, I was offended like everyone else, but wished that no one had dignified them with any response whatsoever, other than a complaint to the list owner, who should IMO immediatedly and unceremoniously delete the offender from the subscription list and the postings from the archives.
All the best!
Don Osborn "oldtimer" mailto:@ osborndo@pilot.msu.edu & itinerant consultant in West Africa ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "A superficial culture, unsupported by a cultivated morality, is as `a confused medley of dreams,' ..." `Abdu'l-Baha (1876) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~