Re: leaving the list

Centro de Estudios Regionales TJA (cerdet@UAJMS.BO)
Fri, 27 Jan 1995 11:13:13 PST 

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 Centro de Estudios Regionales Tarija

 E-mail: cerdet%uajms.bo@pmnt.bo

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Hello Everyone,

     First, sorry if this post is out of date, but as has been

mentioned before, some of us live "out-there" far enough that

our messages arrive with a red-shift.  Anyway, bear with me if

the time delay is annoying.

 

     Just a few comments about the "heated discussions" that

seem to drive some of our members out.

 

     1.  I think, along with asking questions and sharing

general information, the most important function of a list like

anthro-l is to throw around ideas, debate them, and on occasion

arrive at some kind of conclusion.  Without anthro-l where in the

world would we have the chance to trot out any interesting theme

and go at it?  You all know everyone at your university

department or institution, and try talking about memes at the

local bar.  Anthro-l feeds each of us with ideas we hadnot had

before from people we wouldnot otherwise be able to talk to.  I

know if I have a new idea I can trot it out on anthro-l for a

test drive.  No one is going to let something just pass by

unnoticed.  If it works, great.  If not you are going to hear

about it.   This kind of feedback from so many people in such an

open forum is something we shouldnot take for granted.

 

     2.  This all makes us better.  How many people just throw

out arguments without thinking about it a little first?  You know

that some lazy, loose cannon argument is going to get roasted

(and a little ego along with it).  Being put on the spot by very

intelligent and educated people forces you to think, and

ocasionally swallow the bitter pill and admit that maybe your

ideas werenot so great after all.  A little intellectual jousting

is good for us *even if no conculsion is reached*.  Itos like

when you were a kid and wrestled around with your friends in the

living room.  You werenot going to win anything, but you were

getting stronger.  All of our minds get stronger when we subject

ourselves to a little rigorous debate, even about some crazy

topic like phsycic archeology.  It helps us think in new ways,

clean out the mental attic, and fill it in with some fresh

material.

 

     3.  Sure there is name calling, and snide "nasty-grams", and

even some swearing.  Things get emotional sometimes, and that is

just fine, because god know there ought to be somewhere to act

emotional, and if this isnot it, where is it?  If it crosses the

line sometimes, there are always people to pull us back in line.

And letos be honest.  A good number of us (myself included) get a

charge out of seeing people push each others hot buttons (or push

a few myself).  And there are also a good number of us (myself

included) who enjoy getting their hot buttons pushed so they can

go off like an MX missle and get that little thing thats been

bugging them about memes off their chest.

 

     4.  As many people have already done with this letter, if

you donot like it, you donot have to read it!  Itos miraculous.

Imagine being in a conversation where you can tune out any topic

or any person any time you want to!  I couldnot care less about

feminist poets in 18th century Nigeria you couldnot care less

about my message.  Great, hit delete and move on with your life.

 

Just my 2 cents.

 

Andrew Turner