Thank you to all those that have expressed an interest and/or offered 
opinions and suggestions both on the list and by personal email.

It is a curious phenomenon that discussions about the list itself appear 
to bring more contributions/contributors to a discussion here than any 
other topic...

I would like to offer a summary, below, of some of the salient points, 
as presented by others contributing to the discussion.

I wonder if it would also be worth constructing a simple anonymous 
online survey to canvas opinion from those who do not wish to publicly 
comment? There are, after all, approximately 3000 subscribers here.

SUMMARY

* Critical Geographers Forum is unmoderated, so there are no formal 
moderators. As such there will not be any form of censure to ( or 
'having a word with') those contributors that other list users deem 
unacceptable beyond responses emailed to the list or in private.

* There are several people that find the mix of CFPs and other postings 
largely useful and are clearly very fond of Critical Geographers Forum 
and do not wish for it to change.

* There are a significant number of subscribers to this list that do not 
post, some of whom only subscribe for the CFPs and announcements.

* Some concerns have been raised about the possible take-up of another 
list with poor subscriptions resulting in double postings and/or the new 
list folding.

* It has been observed by a couple of people that many of the CFPs and 
announcements made here have very little to do with what might be 
considered 'critical geography' and that such postings are made because 
this list has become a de facto human geography announcements list.

It is by no means definitive and change is, of course, difficult. I 
would not presume to argue for a change for its own sake. However, I am 
not sure that nostalgia is enough for us to stick with the status quo. I 
feel that there have been a reasonable number of responses expressing an 
interest in a new list for announcements.

Given enough interest I am happy to volunteer to set up a new list, but 
I wouldn't want to simply create a duplicate list. I am still very happy 
to hear from people both on and off -list, so please do get in touch. 
Also, if somebody would like to volunteer to help set up a simple survey 
to canvas opinion that might be useful too.

With good wishes,
Sam

On 24/10/2012 08:13, Nicholas James wrote:
> Spot on Simon,
> I've hung-on with interest for something like fifteen years; knowing
> that it all started in the 1980s.
> I've had a telling off - for getting heated about The State.
> I've been interrogated briefly by Professor Rice asking which Uni I was
> associated with.
> All the debates are very, /very /interesting but of course no one can
> keep up with relentless postings and notices. The best idea is for the
> list moderators to have a word with the one or two that are going a
> little over the top.
> The more debate the better. What is the genealogy and emerging
> governmentality of this group?
> Nick
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Simon P J Batterbury <[log in to unmask]>
> To: CRIT-GEOG-FORUM <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wed, 24 Oct 2012 1:49
> Subject: Re: An announcements list for Human Geography
>
> Announcements lists don't work in my view.
> The Environmental Anthropology list, which has just as many members but more
> clustered in North America,  tried this after a very similar complaint last
> year, and it was not successful - people wanted stuff in one hit and 2 lists
> made the problem of receiving messages you don't want even worse. So few people,
> took up the offer to join the new one that they cancelled it.
> Another list I am on separates announcements of new publications from political
> analysis in two separate listservs - this was more successful (conference calls
> go on both though)
> I have been on crit geog forum for twenty years and seen all discussions - keep
> it how it is, minus the trolls and occasional  libellous remarks.
> Simon
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sam Kinsley [mailto:[log in to unmask]  <mailto:[log in to unmask]>]
> Sent: Tuesday, 23 October 2012 8:29 PM
> Subject: An announcements list for Human Geography
>
> Hi,
>
> Three months ago there was some discussion on this list, similar to the last 24
> hours, about what constitutes helpful use of the Critical Geographers Forum.
> Prof. Hannah wrote eloquently about the uses of a semi-public forum in which to
> follow and engage with contemporary geographical debates, which I suggest still
> rings true.
>
> However, and as I have previously observed, while there are undoubtedly some
> very useful discussions on this list I think it may be reasonable to assume that
> one of the principal reasons there are quite so many 'lurkers' is because the
> Crit-Geog-Forum has become the de-facto announcements list. I'm afraid, on that
> score, I disagree here with Jon Cloke.
>
> So, what I would tentatively suggest, following Kelvin's recent email, is
> something I have heard mooted 'offline' a few times at several past RGS-IBG
> conferences: the community should consider setting up a human geography
> announcements list.
>
> I am sure that many of us would remain subscribers of Crit Geog Forum for those
> reasons outlined by others both recently and in the past but such a (new) list
> would perhaps open the possiblity of more discussion on this list by moving the
> announcements to an alternative venue.
>
> I offer this as a suggestion and I can understand many reasons that fellow
> subscribers might have for disagreeing. Nevertheless, it could perhaps offer the
> opportunity to renew this list as a site for (more) discussion of critical
> geography.
>
> Should anyone wish to discuss this further I am interested in pursuing the idea,
> given enough interest, so please feel free to contact me.
>
> With good wishes,
> Sam