Hi everyone,

Long time reader, first time poster.

I enjoy reading the list but I've always hesitated to contribute directly
to discussions because of the relatively small number of active
participants in conversations and their seniority/experience relative to me
(a lowly doctoral student). But what today's discussion has got me to
wondering is whether a listserv is the best forum for the kinds of
discussion we would wish to generate here. Surely a simple discussion
board/forum would better suit our purposes? Or maybe even a sub-reddit on
Reddit, or something along similar lines? This seems especially apt today
as Google have just announced that they are retiring Google Reader, and
Google Reader is what I (and I suspect a few others) use to keep abreast of
developments on the list. I'd really like to see a format that would
encourage a wider participation of list members and foster discussion on a
wider range of topics.

What does anyone else think about this? Does anyone have any experience of
setting up such a discussion forum?

Stephen Beckett

IDAS, Hongik University
Seoul, South Korea




On 14 March 2013 20:26, victor.martinez
<[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> Dear all,
>
> Is intriguing how much effort some of you put into this list, thinking
> about the busy life we all have.
>
> The first thing I have to say is thank you, for the rich and for the
> irrelevant discussions, because for starting researchers like me (and not
> only), everything is about learning and growing.
>
> And you know, defining irrelevance and richness at the end is a very
> personal challenge.
>
> I will keep on reading, please don't stop on writing,
>
> yours truly,
>
>
> Victor G. Martinez
>
> Post Graduate Researcher
> Centre for Design Research
> Department of Design
> Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences
> Northumbria University
>
> www.trophec.com
>
>
>
> Please think if your really need to print this email
>
> ________________________________________
> From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related
> research in Design [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Elizabeth
> Kealy-Morris [[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2013 10:48 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: A Call for Conversation on PhD-Design List Culture
>
> Hello all,
> I am an early-career researcher engaged in doctoral study while lecturing
> full-time in a teaching-focussed institution. A colleague suggested I join
> the list and I'm glad he did, but I have been confused about its goals,
> aims and purpose.
>
> Could some debates take place off-list via individuals writing to each
> other?
>
> What I find most helpful is the ability to ask questions that others can
> then point out research to support an understanding of, as well as the
> excellent posts calling for papers and conference contributions that are so
> difficult to find.
>
> Kind regards,
> Elizabeth
>
> ________________________________________
> From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related
> research in Design [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Ken Friedman [
> [log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 14 March 2013 10:40
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: A Call for Conversation on PhD-Design List Culture
>
> Friends,
>
> I am truly horrified. The reason I challenged Terry on some of the issues
> he raised the other day is that early that same day, I received a letter
> from a distinguished member of this list asking me whether he should bother
> to continue reading. After Terry wrote his — as I saw it — rude reply about
> "doing a Ken," I withdrew from the public conversation. I did write to him
> privately to address these issues, and I mentioned to him that I had had
> three letters from serious subscribers whose writing I value stating that
> they might withdraw.
>
> From other sources, I understand there has been a lot of similar off-list
> conversation. I'm not going to go here into the critique I offered Terry —
> I withdrew from the thread and that was that.
>
> Now I have read Tim's note and I've had yet another letter from a serious
> and respected colleagues whose occasional comments to this list are among
> those I most respect.
>
> I am deeply concerned. If the people I want most to read withdraw from the
> PhD-Design list, I'll have little reason to remain engaged.
>
> I've always believed that the list benefits from being open to any topic
> of any member, with the opportunity for people to debate issues in full.
> This depends on a general kind of responsibility and a bit of sensitivity
> to whether an issue is appropriate.
>
> Even though some of you may be thinking about leaving the list, I am
> asking you not to withdraw. Rather, may I ask that you express your
> concerns — if this requires criticism, please post it: I ask that you be
> direct, honest, and respectful in doing so.
>
> Warm wishes,
>
> Ken
>
> Ken Friedman, PhD, DSc (hc), FDRS | University Distinguished Professor |
> Swinburne University of Technology | Melbourne, Australia |
> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> | Mobile +61 404
> 830 462 | Home Page
> http://www.swinburne.edu.au/design/people/Professor-Ken-Friedman-ID22.html
> <http://www.swinburne.edu.au/design>  Academia Page
> http://swinburne.academia.edu/KenFriedman About Me Page
> http://about.me/ken_friedman
>
> Guest Professor | College of Design and Innovation | Tongji University |
> Shanghai, China
>
>
> Tim Smithers wrote:
>
> What kind of discussion list is this?
>
>
> It's recently been asserted here that ...
>
> "We have a big, pretty messy literature about design
>  activities that is pretty much broad brush and guesswork"
>
> The "we" here, I take it, means us; more than 2000 design
> research interested people we can, I think, reasonably
> suppose.
>
> However, if this really is a design research discussion list,
> assertions like this one would not be posted here.  It's an
> assertion made without any pointers to the literature referred
> to, and made with no kind of support or justification or
> argumentation for how this "big" literature can fairly be
> described as mostly "broad brush" and "guesswork."
>
> This kind of assertion has no place in a constructive
> discussion of designing and design research, and it is mildly
> insulting to those authors who have contributed to the
> literature on design activities.
>
> This kind of assertion, and others like it, are Ego Trip
> posts.  Is this what PhD-Design list is here for?
>
> I don't think so, but, as many of you know, it takes a great
> deal of time and effort to respond in a constructive way to
> this kind of post.
>
> Regrettably, very much so, I'm not in a situation in which I
> can dedicate this kind of time and effort to this, and I don't
> think I'm alone in this.
>
> However, nor can I easily just watch this kind of thing go by,
> leaving it's mark on the list, suggesting that this kind of
> post is a good example of good design research discussion.
>
> So, this will be my last PhD-Design post, and I won't be here
> to see what follows.  I've decided to drop off the list, in
> frustration, not in protest.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Tim
>
>
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