I wish the number of replies this and other non-museum related discussions were equal to the number of responses I've had when I posted a question asking for help. I am a recent graduate of a masters program and am now in my first "real" museum job. I look to the list for assistance from senior, more experienced colleagues.......maybe I'm a naïve gen-xer..... From: Rebecca Fitzgerald [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Friday, August 26, 2005 10:36 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Lesson from: Well, I've seen everything else on this list, so why not this? Hmmm...it's very interesting that while Mr. Bottoms posted a quoted article that is certainly controversial and expresses the purported opinion of one retired general. But, Mr. Bottoms has not sunk to the depths of some members of this list. I've seen posts that referred to him as a "creep" or a "troll." Most posts dismissed him as a "mad ranter" or an inflammatory "baiter." Mr. Bottom's post has actually helped expose a serious weakness of this list, and one that prevents me from recommending it to my colleagues and students. The Museum-L listserv is a very politically polarized list, very intolerant of any views other than the extremely liberal one. Folks who do express a contrary view are shouted down and characterized as bumpkins or ignorant. I belong to several successful history listservs that could serve as models to this group. I'd like to recommend MARHST-L, a maritime history listserv. This list includes members from every corner of the world, and every political leaning. And because of the maritime content, politics and war are necessarily part of the discussion. The difference is that these discussions are framed carefully, respectful to ALL members, regardless of nation or viewpoint. We would do well to emulate this list. Successful listservs go beyond civility, to caring. I was in a meeting yesterday with colleagues from Iraq and Lebanon. The gentleman from Iraq was describing some of the country's internal problems that have resulted from the war, and the ensuing poverty. He insisted on using his English, and used the word "careless" to describe the behaviors of some of his countrymen: looting, robbing and mugging other Iraqis. His meaning was that they had no love of their own countrymen. I've thought lots about his use of the word and it seems to apply here. We don't mean to hurt with our words, but we are careless...meaning that we have no love/concern for the folks who are reading our posts. Donning my asbestos suit! Becky Fitzgerald Susquehanna Museum ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).