(De)politicization of ANTHRO-L

John Hoopes (HOOPES@KUHUB.CC.UKANS.EDU)
Thu, 13 Oct 1994 21:43:25 -0500

I think it is crucial that Hugh Jarvis respond to Dwight Read's comments,
especially given that a copy of the posting on the cessation of the
"political" discussion of AA was forwarded to the Tedlocks (are they
not subscribers to ANTHRO-L)? I'm somewhat less paranoid than Read is
about this, but the appearance of impropriety is just as bad as the
real thing. Is it really possible that the "politics" behind
editorial policies at AA are also having an effect on free discussion
on ANTHRO-L? Say it isn't so!

Yes, there exist other media for these types of discussions, but few
have the immediacy or the accessibility of a listserver. That's why
we subscribe and participate!

A large number of my colleagues dropped their memberships in the AAA

years ago (I've kept my membership for over 12 years now). It seems
to me that any trends toward stifling the free exchange of ideas
(including the political) will do nothing but drive more people
away from the AAA. If I really thought the same was happening
with ANTHRO-L, I'd UNSUBSCRIBE in a minute!

John Hoopes
Associate Professor
Dept. of Anthropology
University of Kansas