As you may note: Alison Croggan left the list. And she left because of the futility and pervasiveness of bloodymindedness, which is
not robust discussion.
The only problem with trying to avoid offending people’s sensibilities in discussions is that often people attribute offence where none is intended. And also people can take offence simply with one disagreeing with them. It’s hard to avoid such tempestuousness at times.
My worry is that the political correctness that has created “no-platforming” and intellectual “safe spaces” could infiltrate poetic discussion lists like this one.
It is very easy for robust discussions to be used as a pretext to explain why some women don’t take part in them. Perhaps those women (like some men) simply don’t feel comfortable having their opinions challenged, and so don’t take part.
I don’t think robust discussions are necessarily the sole preserve of men here. As I said Alison Croggan was a robust debater (too robust for some, I expect). I hope this list doesn’t become a self-flagellation watering hole for “emasculated” and “feminised” males.
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Jamie McKendrick wrote;
No apologies necessary, but thanks for thinking over what I said.
As for robust debate, I feel that’s fine here and no one minds it. But for all of us the conversation’s more informative and fun if it doesn’t get bogged down in the inconsequential or descend to personal animosity or point-scoring.
I do believe that many people, and not only women, have found the often irate mode of discussion on this list off-putting which is a shame because many other postings seem to me thought-provoking and enlightening.
Regarding what Tim said about the misattribution of views and motives, I also very much feel that it hampers things considerably. It shuts down the space for explorative or tentative or speculative thinking. Which poetry should surely be encouraging.
Jamie
