sigh.

A simple "no, this doesn't bother the rest of us" would have sufficed.
I really didn't see my comment as a personal attack at all, and I am
surprised that it was perceived as such.

Here's my position: I have worked as both a teacher and a librarian, and
I have seen a general downslide in students' willingness to do
research.  I think it is wonderful that there are resources such as the
web and listservs to aid in research, but I have seen far too many
students reach for that first, and then let it be the only tool they
use!  It simply is not enough, and you all know that.

If you are posing a question as important as a request for ideas for a
thesis topic, wouldn't it make sense to let the list know where you have
looked for information, and what specific fields are of interest?  "Art
and politics" as a topic is *awfully* broad.  If you are taking your
question to a group of experts, doesn't it make sense to give as much
background information as possible?

This sort of question, "I need a thesis topic" really requires a long
and detailed reference interview (sorry for the jargon - when I was in
library school that's what we called the gentle questioning of a library
patron to get down to what they really wanted.)  Reference interviews
are notoriously difficult, time consuming, and not nearly as effective
via email.  The person who asked the question would be far better served
by asking a librarian face to face.  And rest assured, if I were the
librarian, I would be nice, smile and give my all to help her narrow her
topic.

I am impressed with how very kind and generous you all are (seriously, I
am sincere!) and I am glad that there are many of you who make a point
of welcoming others into the fold.  That's nice: you are nice people!
Many of you have indicated that I am distinctly *not* nice. Well, I
apologize to those I offended but I do stick by my original response to
the request for help in choosing a thesis topic: read a lot, talk to
your advisor and for Ah-Pook's sweet sake, ask a librarian!

-Cate Cooney, Ogre.

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