thanks, chris
this says it all!!!
jk
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John Kinsella
Churchill College
Cambridge CB3 ODS
England.
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Square/8574/
On Mon, 17 Jul 2000, Chris Hamilton-Emery wrote:
> I've been part of this list from its inception, working closely with John to
> develop it and its links to publishing ventures and activities throughout
> the world. It has been, and remains, a place of great diversity, offering
> bright and articulate exchange, a place for developing friendships and (most
> importantly) extending one's thinking on writing. It has changed my life and
> allowed me to enter into debate with poets of all persuasions, from all
> parts of the globe, age groups and genders.
>
> The list has relied on common decency (though not without the benefit of
> heated exchange, we are after all in the real world), and a shared passion
> for all things relating to poetry and poetics. Sometimes the list has gone
> off-topic, but by and large these digressions have been fruitful and
> entertaining. But we're not here to talk about science, psychology or
> engineering, except of course in its direct relation to writing poems.
> Surely there's no need to even articulate this?
>
> The list is sometimes forthright and challenging; but never threatening,
> gratuitous or prejudiced; and suggesting that poets here are behaving in
> this manner seems misjudged and, to be honest, quite offensive.
>
> Poetryetc welcomes women and offers a place for women to speak safely as
> equals with men on the list. Gender issues in poetry and poetics remains an
> important part of the list's mission. This surely doesn't need regulating?
>
> So I do not want to be part of a list that relies on rules or explicit codes
> of practice. In fact I don't want rules at all really. Perhaps it's all down
> to finding one's way here in this sometimes bewildering territory of names
> and voices from around the world. If so, new members should just take their
> time to enjoy the space without feeling the need to impose legislation! It's
> often better to listen hard, more than talk hard.
>
> I personally (calmly) resent that I should have to apply to be here, or sign
> up to a code of practice to engage in any form of exchange with women on
> this list (many of whom I already work with), and I would personally regard
> this as degrading for any woman who has already chosen to be here actively,
> positively, contributing to the list.
>
> I fully respect that some people feel more comfortable in a world governed
> by rules, but the list has survived without such systems and has flourished
> because of it. There have been rare (very rare) exceptions when someone has
> caused extreme offence, and action has been taken. We all work (as one would
> expect) to avoid such situations.
>
> Perhaps one ought to consider how the poets here have already negotiated
> their own space and developed their courteous and positive membership of the
> list without recourse to such things as application forms and codes of
> practice. It will be a sad day if we were to resort to the use of such forms
> of control, merely to share our passions with other human beings. This is a
> valuable and open space: so let's not ruin it.
>
> Best
> Chris
>
>
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