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I think Tobias has really gotten to to core of the problem here. Indeed, I
am not opposed to using this as a proper forum for exploring and asking
each other for insights on new (to us) issues. If memory serves, posts
asking for help with a topic that included background have appeared on this
list in the past, and I found them very interesting.
Giving background on why one is asking a particular question is valuable
for two reasons:
1) It helps people give you suggestions that are more focused and hopefully
more valuable because they know where you're coming from.
2) It gives the rest of the list some interesting insight into research
they might not be aware of but might also find valuable.
Both of these stress the notion of exchange which several of the emails in
this latest thread have stressed as something they want from this listserv.
To further this end, perhaps we could agree amongst ourselves on some form
of the following etiquette.
First, when people have queries for information, they should briefly
descirbe what the information is for and how it might be used. Since we all
(hopefully) extend this courtesy to our informants in some form, we might
also think about extending it to ourselves.
Second, it seems only polite that people share what they learn from such
queries. You might not be the only one interested in finding out x. Sharing
what you learn is a nice form of reciprocity
Instead of setting these in stone as rigid law, we could perhaps all take
it upon ourselves, in the spirit of 'community' or 'professionalism', to
politely remind those who negelect this etiquette (out of ignorance or
otherwise).
Perhaps I should have taken my own advice before starting this thread. I
think this is the approach I'll take from now on.
---
That said, although it's not an overwhelming problem now, I wonder if the
possibility of two lists wouldn't be relevant if the discussion portion
begins to grow. Having a moderated announcements list and a very loosely
moderated (for flames and spam) discussion list might prove useful. I say
this because the comments that have been made point to two different
aspects of the list which different people find valuable.
1)announcements/CFPs/conferences/jobs
2)discussion/communitas/support
Separating the two will benefit those who find their inboxes a little too
full to regularly check on discussions, and would likely have a minimum
effect on the discussions themselves. I, for instance, agree with Denise
that the discussion portion is extremely valuable, and I would still
subscribe to it were it a separate list. However, I have to say that up
until now, the great value of AM for me has been the consistent relevance
of the announcements, CFPs, and jobs listings. As a member of the AAA, the
SMA, the NAPA and the ASA I am on a number of lists that attempt this, but
AM is the only one I find myself regularly making the time to read (instead
of filing in the trash because I don't have time to wade through it). Even
if there isn't something relevant to me every day, there's usually
something relevant to people I know and I pass it on.
This is a great basis for 'community', but if the discussions started to
outnumber the announcements, I likely wouldn't have time to scan every
email that came through. In the future, should that day come, separating
the lists would allow for both to flourish and be a benefit to people who
value either aspect of the current list.
Perhaps this needs further discussion in the future.
Sorry to have started such a torrent of email, but I hope it proves
beneficial for all of us in the end.
-David Leitner
On Mar 18 2006, Tobias Sperlich wrote:
>******************************************************
>* http://www.anthropologymatters.com *
>* A postgraduate project comprising online journal, *
>* online discussions, teaching and research resources *
>* and international contacts directory. *
> ******************************************************
>
>Hey Everybody,
>
>I agree with you all that peer support is necessary
>and benefitial, and I think this forum is a great
>supportive network to raise questions and ask for
>support of various type. However, I feel that David's
>point is valid and I think Christy has made a good
>suggestion.
>
>It is the nature of the beast of mailing lists that
>they (at times) will clog up everyone's inbox and I
>think it might be benefitial if we agreed on ways to
>minimise the chance of this happening.
>
>If this is indeed a professional list, we should show
>professionalism in our research, and be open for
>sharing what we do. That is, it should be common
>practise to say why we are after the information we
>are looking for and what we have already found. (Just
>as Christy has suggested.)
>
>Unfortunately, some of the e-mails that have surfaced
>recently have not really given the impression that the
>individual requesting further information is indeed
>looking for *further* information but general
>information that a quick search on JSTOR,
>Anthrorsource or any university library could bring
>up.
>
>This is not to say that these individuals have not
>done their homework, but to me, as a recipient of
>these e-mails it looks that way. I have no way of
>knowing if the information I might contribute to this
>question will be of help (because the individual
>asking might be several steps ahead of me already in
>her or his research) or if this issue might even be of
>interest to me. Giving a bit of context would clarify
>all these issues (and *might* keep some people from
>posting questions that can be answered with a little
>library or net research, thereby preventing "abuse" of
>this mailing list).
>
>Toby
>
>
>-----------------------
>
>Tobias Sperlich
>Department of Anthropology
>University of Regina
>Regina
>S4S 0A2
>Canada
>
>
>
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--
---------------------------------
David S. Leitner, PhD. Candidate
Department of Social Anthropology
University of Cambridge
---------------------------------
Contact:
David S. Leitner
Churchill College
Cambridge CB3 0DS
United Kingdom
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