>Hi everyone,
>
>Louise Hitchcock wrote:
>
>>To address Chris' comments: [Chris, being the guy who decided he was not
>>feeling trivialized by a banal subject matter].
>
>>By looking in the subject heading one can decide to hit the delete key
>>so as not to feel trivialized by banal, or uninteresting subject matter
>>(something I've learned to do on a routine basis).
>
>So, you didn't think that Chris' comment was either banal or uninteresting?
>Because if you did, you wouldn't have answered, because if you would, you
>would have deleted the post as you do "on a routine basis", right?
>Therefore, Chris' post must have been an interesting and valid response to
>that which you were discussing. Which gives: why the hard feelings when
>someone on this list write what s/he feels is important? Is there any
>reasom to flame Chris just because he says something that he thinks is
>valid? What kind of ethics do we want on this list?
>
Well, I didn't expect to really have to go here, but since you had to ask:
how closely I pay attention to the contents of my in box usually has a lot
to do with how busy I am. If it's really hectic, I even delete interesting
messages or wait a few days to read them. If a message is on a topic I have
no knowledge about whatsoever and no time to become involved in, and since
I am on about 6 lists, I usually do delete it. I truthfully couldn't tell
from the subject heading in Chris' initial post whether I would want read
it or not. When in doubt, I usually read. In fact, I quickly skimmed it
and deleted it because it was a hectic moment at work. When the message
later was repeated in Constanze's message, I read it more closely.
I found the discussion of nationalism, the Balkans, and ethnicity
interesting. Then I was a little confused as to what Chris was referring to
re. a soap opera as I wasn't sure what was meant. When I did realize what
was meant, I found the comment insulting. I don't think that discussing the
Balkans issue is unimportant. I think Chris began the flame war by
disregarding/dismissing what was important to others. And, I don't think I
was so much discussing what was in Helga's post as I was answering a
question.
Louise Hitchcock
Louise A. Hitchcock, Ph.D.
Research Associate
Von Grunebaum Center for Near Eastern Studies
UCLA
310-825-9639
For more info on the Center and its Programs:
http://www.isop.ucla.edu/cnes
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