On 13-Jan-09 10:36:23, John Platt wrote:
> Recently discussions around epistemology have featured heavily.
> I notice that subsequent to this there has been an increase in
> unsubscribe me pleas.
> Are the two related?
> John Platt
Quite possibly, though the mechanism may be obscure.
For example, I can envisage a common-cause mechanism.
This thread began on Sunday 4 Jabuary 2009.
It is possible that, especially under the influence of seasonally
associated inhabitual diet, people's thoughts tend to turn towards
epistemology to an unusual extent. Also, the seasonally associated
excess leisure provides opportunity to pursue discussion of their
thoughts.
The "unsubscribe" requests began on Monday 12 January 2009.
Similarly, it is possible that resumption of normal working habits,
again seasonally associated, together with the perceptions of multiple
messages on EBH, triggered a realisation amongst some people that it
was time they signed off from EBH (which they had been intending to
do anyway, but hadn't got round to).
Alternatively, it may simply be that some people don't want to receive
messages from a list that emits such postings.
I can only see one way to resolve the question, namely a Randomised
Trial. This would involve starting "epistomology" threads at random
times throughout the year, and seeing what numbers of "unsubscribe"
requests ensued.
Volunteers?
Happy New Year (epistemologically speaking)!
Ted.
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Date: 13-Jan-09 Time: 11:16:56
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