Message-ID: <32D503E8.78C9@mind.net> Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 14:42:48 +0000 From: "B. Diamond" <mailto:bdiamond@MIND.NET> Subject: Re: What for list? (sorry) To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Joaquim Moura wrote: >
> Dear friends,
>
> While I agree that our discussion was very intense, I think this shows the
> importance of the issue. I guess if the people who complained have this
> question so well understood that they don't want to discuss it anymore, and
> get bothered if other do... Or if they don't care about understanding that
> issue - will capitalism lead humanity and nature to a safer and happier
> future? - which I consider very important for us, people professionally or
> voluntarily involved with socio-environmental development.
>
> Else, this discussion about capitalism and development is very the same than
> that other discussion about appropriate technology that was flaming here
> some weeks ago. And this issue will be again and again with us, with
> different names, because is at the bottom line of our activity and our
> effectiveness. I think we shall not limit this list to announcements of
> seminars and job or academic career opportunities. Conceptual considerations
> will prove to be essential if we want more results than development
> community has been able to achieve till these days.
Here, here Joaquim, I couldn't have said it better myself. Those of us who work in development can no longer afford to skirt these issues; for they lay at the root of what it is we do. There may be some on the list who do not care to join in on this discussion... that's their choice and I respect that. However, in much the same way that I would never tell them that this topic is important, and they *must* listen in or be removed from the list, I would suggest that they respect the time, effort, and ideas of the 10 or so people who have involved themselves in this thread. I've been on this list for over 3 years, and it has always been quite ho-hum to be perfectly blunt; I have only stayed on because every now and then something of importance comes through. Frankly, I welcome the energy and excitement that this thread has generated. I will humbly apologize to the list for the (apparent) numerous resends I posted to the list in error, thanks to those who took the time to answer my inquiry as to the status of those repeated messages. Having done extensive fieldwork in third world countries, I am ever-sensitive to the costs that some people incur to read lots of mail. However, we have had several replies from people who are paying said charges encouraging us to continue this discussion (and others like it) because it is important, while we have thus far not had a single person write-in and plea with us to stop because they cannot afford it. My gut feeling is that the cost issue is really a red-herring for those who have no interest in the discussion, and are tired of the numerous messages that they receive, I see this happen on other lists all the time. I am, as are many others, on several differant lists. In my seven years on the internet, I have yet to find a list where people only post things that I happen to agree with and/or find important. That is why we have a delete key. I do agree that continued, one on one, personal exchanges should be taken off the list and into the private forum, and frankly, I'd even agree the posts between Steve Eskow and myself likely fit into that category, however numerous people have since joined in the conversation. It is indeed a very curious phenomenon to witness the manner in which we deal wiht each other in this electronic format. While we would never dream of requesting that one of our classmates or co-workers censure their speech, we have absolutely no problem in self-righteously requesting that people not "flood my mailbox" with unwanted posts, which, I might add, take mere seconds to rid yourselves of. The courseness, abruptness, and rudeness with which many of us interact (myself included :) ) in this medium is quite interesting indeed. Perhaps this speaks volumes to the very idea that those of us who are outsiders to people's problems remain so detached and anonymous that we never are truly able to empathize with their situation. Nevertheless, I think that the ideas that have been shared lately are A) important and B) fall within the parameters of this list's purpose. While I will make an effort to shorten posts (this is a bad example) and I will not erroneously resend messages to the list, I will continue to discuss these ideas on this list (albeit in perhaps a more focused, case-specific manner) until such time that I am removed from the list without my consent.
Sincerely,
Bret Diamond