Date: Thu, 25 Dec 1997 10:58:05 +0100 (MET)
From: rolf.martens-AT-mailbox.swipnet.se (Rolf Martens)
Subject: Re: M-G: What are all these attacks on the list?


Juan F. wrote, on 21.12:

>Hey guys, what's up with all these personal attacks and insults?  I'm a
>new subscriber to the list and frankly I'm more than a bit disappointed
>to see that most of what I received in M-G Digest V1 #561 (Dec. 24, '97)
>consisted of attacks on other people's character.  Granted, I've not
>been around to see the preceding events and discussions that led to this
>ill will, but still...

Such attacks indeed have been quite common during certain periods
of time here on M-G. They're not so informative perhaps. The basic
conflict lying behind this batch (as well as behind some earlier)
is the desire by some people to prevent free speech. Behind this
again there lie the interests of the reactionaries of course.

>When I tried some time ago to join the Marxism List and found it was
>closed I was quite disappointed because browsing through its contents on
>archive I found that many of the discussions were very interesting. 


Yes. The old Marxism list was closed (most probably) because the 
reactionaries had been completely beaten in the so-called "Quispe"
fight (mainly) in April-June 1996. It was replaced. more or less,
by this list, M-G, though there was a splitting up into another
and moderated list too, M-I. M-G actually has functioned quite
well. Admittedly, the discussions here in general have been more
barren than those on the old "M1" - Marxism list. But during certain
periods, there have been good discussions here too.

>And, now that I found this list form Spoons I joined right away hoping
>for the same kind of stuff.  And, sadly, I've not found it, except for
>Roger Phelan's contribution on "Socialism from Below".  I hope that
>we'll see more contributions of this type and that these will outweigh
>the other stuff.

I for one intend to make some contributions on world affairs too.
In the long run, the "brawling" debate parts, though basically
necessart too, will not dominate, I think.

> If people are really worried about someone trying to
>destroy the list, this niggling infighting will do it quicker by turning
>it into sterile ground as far as fruitful discussion and healthy debate
>are concerned (which are, presumably why one joins such a list to begin
>with ...at least in my case it was.)
>
>Juan Fajardo

"Niggling infighting" sometimes is necessary.

But most of us including me of course above all want those
healthy debates too.

Rolf M.



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