Dear Andrea,
I am very interested to read your comments, to which I may only comment very
hastily.
You make reference to the 'moderatore della lista', but it is important to
realize an essential aspect of the list. It was, and is, my intention that
this list operate as a list of responsible scholars. It is my personal
opinion -- and it is purely personal -- that scholars need to converse
freely, without a moderator deciding on the intellectual validity of each
message before sending it on -- a day later, a week later, a month later --
to the list.
If the list is to work, then it is up to YOU (plural) to make it work. If
you want it to be scholarly, then the very worst thing is to sit back and
treat the list as if it is some sort of television or newspaper in the hands
of other people. Think about it: how often have you criticized the content
(or lack of content) of the list?; and think about it: how often you have
tried to do something constructive, like USE IT as it is intended? Despite
the occasional errors and human weaknesses that occur from time to time, I
would like to think that the list does serve a unique purpose: allowing
unmoderated discussion amongst scholars in all fields of italianistica.
If the list does not fulfill this purpose to the ultimate degree, then
please do something about it. USE IT to pose queries about your research;
USE IT to answer queries you may know something about; USE IT to show that
you value being an integral part of an exciting community of scholars. Of
course, don't abuse it by regularly ignoring or breaking the rules as
outlined in our list's introductory message (which is to be found at:
http://www.mailbase.ac.uk/cgi-bin/intro?italian-studies).
If some member(s) should do things to aggravate you, then do as I do: write
to her/him/them OFF THE LIST (not on it, which only wastes everyone's time
and patience). And better yet: set an example for others to follow -- a
positive one, not a negative one.
I'm very sorry if this appears to be a diatribe directed at you, Andrea.
This is most definitely not my intention. If it is a diatribe, it is against
the tiny minority of those who may repeatedly misuse the list, and the
larger minority who sit there, waiting to be entertained.
I'm sorry: it's Friday night, it's been a long week, and I'm very very
tired. I shouldn't have had this modem installed at home, perhaps!
With all good wishes, to Andrea and to everyone on the list,
George
George Ferzoco
List owner (NOT moderator), italian-studies
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