Is this anthropological?

Anthro Students (Anthro.Students@ANTHROPOLOGY.SU.EDU.AU)
Mon, 23 Jan 1995 23:18:04 -0500

Hi!

In frustration I posted the following to the sci.anthropology newsgroup.

Why is it that this group appears to be continually concerned with
questions pertaining to sociobiology and genetic notions of race? There is
nothing that this group discusses that I would seriously connect with
anthropology as a professional discipline as it is today.

Is this because the popular perception of anthropology still revolves
around theories of biological determinism and scientific reduction? Is the
number of computer scientists in this group robbing it of the ability to
address questions of cultural meaning (or anything meaningfully for that
matter)?

Getting pissed off!

John Cook.

An overreaction? Perhaps. On consideration however, it occurred to me that
without too much distortion, and with the notable exceptions of a number of
posters, the same thing could be suggested about anthro-l.

This may be a result of differences in notions of anthropology between the
United States and Australia or maybe I have a completely unrealistic vision
of the discipline of anthropology. If this is the case perhaps someone could
point me in the direction of a mailing group where the phenomena of
"culture" is discussed a little more seriously.

Does anyone agree?

Not really pissed off but somewhat frustrated.

John Cook.

anthro.students@anthropology.su.edu.au