File spoon-archives/list-proposals.archive/list-proposals_2000/list-proposals.0001, message 42


From: ma-AT-panix.com
Subject: Focuses
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2000 10:21:49 -0500 (EST)


Nathaniel wrote:

> A list of which I am a member has specific forums every
> semester. Each time they set up a time period for specific discussion of
> an issue, they bring in some folks who have spent time with that same
> issue and they post position statements, or questions, ahead of time so
> that the members can get a heads up in terms of crafting contributions.
> For the alloted time period (two weeks, perhaps more) folks discuss the
> issues raised. That approach allows me to schedule that time period and to
> focus on those discussions.

Now I don't know if you'd be interested in going in this direction, but 
I personally would much prefer to pursue _it_ than a generic list in the
style of, say, the foucault list.  The problem is that running a list like
what you describe above is a lot of work.  But aside from that (heh heh), 
here is one possible format.  The "list" could consist of 3 interrelated 
entities: 

   1.  A permanent "meta-list" whose purpose would be to decide what would 
       be some good topics for the temporary specific "issue lists"
   2.  At any one time, a bunch of temporary specific "issue lists" whose
       topics, time span and duration get decided and announced long in 
       advance, and to which people who have thought about the given issue
       get invited.  So these are basically teaching seminars just as much
       as they are discussion groups.
   3.  A bulletin board system for handling reference queries, queries for 
       people doing specific kinds of work, and other such non-discussion 
       items.

These would have to be closely linked into some simple, pleasing, and 
easy-to-interact-with interface.  Obviously there would be archives, etc. 
The catch, once again, is the work involved.  In fact it is quite possible
that the issue of the "different kind of lists" the Spoons hanker after is 
almost exclusively a question of work and of intensity: hence one is more
likely to achive this in a short-term or very focused project than an 
indefinitely-timed or generic one.  With a long-term setup of the kind I am 
describing above, one might need a changing group of moderators, to prevent 
burnout.  Or else the running of this setup has to be either a consuming
passion or a permanent part of one's professional life, with a scheduled
allotment of time.


-m

   

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