Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2002 18:03:25 -0800 (PST)
Subject: HAB: Who is really interested in JH's works?


[Excuse me if this posting turns up a second time. I sent
it nearly 6 hours ago, but it failed to arrive. ]

--------------------------------------------------------

Re: Vic Peterson, RE: Keep your mouth shut?
Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 10:20:03 -0500

Vic:

Thanks for what you posted Tuesday. You spoke for me when
you referred to ?those of us who subscribe to this list
because we are interested in Habermas.?

However, when *I have* sought to "deal more closely with
the texts," I discover that the interest is almost never 
reciprocated. I seldom get any thoughtful response, or at
most a passing comment. So, why bother?

Thus, I?m not surprised that new subscribers would view the
Spoons list as a place for spontaneous exchanges. 

After all, this list has been around for nearly seven
years, and you don?t see recognized Habermas scholars
making the least sign of effort to support this medium as a
place to foster genuine interest in Habermas's work on the
?Net, through even brief notes of approval when thoughtful
postings happen (Why would they *want* to subscribe?). One
could think that either the serious readers of JH aren?t
attuned to The global medium of communication or the Spoons
venue is beneath them. 

I?ve expressed *my* interest in hearing from other engaged
readers (last month), but this was met with silence (apart
from a couple of spontaneous *reactions* to my posting,
rather than new expressions of enagement).  

Frankly, I feel a little foolish attempting to contribute
thoughtful discussions, since I don?t get much expression
of interest in what I post (or the fact that I'm giving
time to this venue), let alone text-immanent reply or
contributions in kind. 

Consequently, I?m tending to limit my postings to responses
to others (my tacit Golden Rule), and don?t initiate topics
anymore. 

I think that *not many* subscribers are engaged with JH?s
thinking. Maybe the writing is on the wall, so to speak:
Interest in JH?s work is no longer growing, if not dying. 

Regards,

Gary





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