Hi World -
I go away for a few days, and come back to a mini flamefest!
Ok. The official line which the PHYSIO listowners take, is that the
PHYSIO list is available for anyone (clinicians, academics,
administrators, undergrads and postgrads) with an interest in the
physio/physical therapy profession. The three basic Ground rules for
using the list are politeness to other users at all times, no
advertising for commercial gain and no deliberate junk mail (like
chain letters), although people's perceptions of what junk mail is
can vary.
It can be argued that PHYSIO need not necessarily be the last resort
for finding information - is it any less valid than using an
electronic library information system? Also, when students send to
the list asking about potential research, might it not be because
they have a chosen field, but want to know what particular areas are
crying-out for research to be done on them? These are questions, not
dogma.
Many undergrads have used the list over the past 5 years, and in the
main, their requests have been pertinent and courteous. I receive
email from students, asking permission to use the list for study
purposes, and I have never refused, although I do recommend that they
discuss the proposed email with their tutors, so that other list
members are not subjected to what they might perceive as timewasting.
I have to keep reminding myself, however, that *everyone* makes
mistakes. For example, one of *my* students from my *own*
Department, (and for heaven's sake, you'd think if anyone would get
it right, it would be someone from here!!) sent an ill-conceived
message to the list last year, without consulting anyone, and
naturally got zero response, apart from ruffling a few international
feathers. But I figure that the intention was good. He was
using his initiative by making use of a global resource, with the
potential for increasing his knowledge base and that of his peers,
but got the technique wrong. No blame.
No-one should feel offended by the discussion (though I find it
*ABSOLUTELY IRONIC* that we can have traffic of something like 22
messages about something that is near enough a question of
netiquette!) it's good to give subjects an airing - it's a pity we
can't get equally as heated and responsive about some of the issues
surrounding the profession.
That's all for now folks, unless I think of something else.
Cheers!
Heather
Heather Upfield, List-owner PHYSIO Mailbase
Dept Physiotherapy, Queen Margaret College
Edinburgh EH6 8HF, Scotland, UK
email: [log in to unmask] OR
email: [log in to unmask]
Phone:+44 (0) 131 317 3641 Fax:+44 (0) 131 317 3815
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