RE: [asa] Fear and Loathing on this list

As one who has had a number of my questions answered, and have come to join
ASA after participating in this list, I can say that there is definitely a
benefit to this list. Now admittedly, I have come to start deleting a
significant portion of the e-mails with only a skim reading because of the
volume of messages, and which tend to become chatter and/or rabbit trails on
subjects that I'm not needing to pursue. And I do agree that there needs to
be more serious discussion and a greater restraint against personal
disparagement. If I have participated in this (or do in the future), feel
free to call me out on it.

I would like to see a more serious engagement on issues from a wider variety
of points of view. The challenge is for those with strong views on both
sides (not just "theirs") to be able to present strong and well thought out
reasons, and to treat each other with civility, so that they aren't driven
away simply because of uncharitable attitudes. I think the discussion with
Timaeus was a good example of how it could work effectively.

Jon Tandy

-----Original Message-----
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On
Behalf Of Ted Davis
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 10:00 AM
To: Preston Garrison; David Opderbeck
Cc: ASA list
Subject: Re: [asa] Fear and Loathing on this list

As both a long time participant on the ASA list and current ASA V-P, I have
often wondered how much good the list actually does, both for those who
participate on it and for the organization itself.

On the one hand, several non-members have been attracted into the ASA partly
or primarily b/c of the list. That is good. Also, it does provide space
where views of interest to the relatively small number of members who
participate can be discussed in a serious way--though quite often the
discussion is not very serious, and that is not good. We have sometimes
discussed articles in PSCF, and that can be very good if it stays respectful
and on-topic. We've implemented some policies and made some decisions that
IMO have helped, but it has never been a heavily moderated list where we can
really ensure that. I do not know if we would move in that direction.

On the other hand, the list represents the views of a relatively small
percentage of our members (e.g., ID is not well represented, though a
significant percentage of our members support aspects of ID), and the kinds
of exchanges that I have sometimes seen here do not represent the highly
positive, even warm interactions that are typical for our annual meetings.
Probably it isn't possible for us to duplicate that type of fellowship and
exchange in an on-line forum. Oh that we could! To that extent, the list
can give inquirers (and members alike) a very inaccurate view of what our
meetings are like, and it's our meetings and the journal that really make
the ASA what it is. One solution would be just to end the list, but for
reasons stated above that wouldn't be the best thing either.

Whatever happens, my top concern as ASA V-P is that we find some ways to
move toward having a list that attracts a good number of people to become
members, and also to attend our meetings. The topics and range of views,
not to mention the respectful exchanges, that we have at annual meetings are
not adequately mirrored here. Those on this list, esp ASA members, are
invited to contact me *privately* with any comments and suggestions relative
to this. This is a concern that I brought with me when elected to Council,
and it's one that I have not made much progress with--an ongoing source of
frustration. I'm sure we can do much better, but I'm not at all sure just
how, and I'm all ears.

Ted

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Received on Mon Feb 16 22:53:44 2009