File spoon-archives/marxism-thaxis.archive/marxism-thaxis_1997/97-04-15.135, message 27


Date: Sun, 6 Apr 1997 10:16:15 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ralph Dumain <rdumain-AT-igc.apc.org>
Subject: Re: M-TH: Spoons fiascos


My heartfelt thanks goes both to Lou and to Scott for their constructive
spirit and good sense in responding regarding the general state of the
marxism lists.  The society in which we live, of which we are all a a part
no matter how we oppose it, is not organized to bring out the best in all of
us.  We need mechanisms by which we can conduct our business and
productively pursue our agendas, without having to be subject to the
emotional pressure 24 hours a day of competing with what we deem to be the
harmful influences of others on our ideological environment.  That means
sometimes we have to associate separately so that we can do what we do best
or at least the best we can do.  Hence there should be various lists
centered around various approaches to various subject matter.  There should
be lists pertaining to political strategizing, one for the sectarian parties
to duke it out, one for the Monthly Review nucleus and/or other political
strategizing projects, and so on.  The same should hold for theoretical
projects.  Aside from the specialized lists on Bourdieu and Bhaskar and the
like, which do what they are supposed to do, and are free of the problems
that better us, we do not need separate lists centered around science,
theory, philosophy, etc., esp. considering the low volume of activity in all
of them, but rather lists centered around various mindsets related to all of
these theoretical matters at once.  If people want to debate whether Engels
is gospel or Antichrist, they should be able to do so in their own little
cage.  If people want to explore other issues regarding dialectics, the
sciences, political economy, etc., they should have another forum in which
to do so.  However, when you lump everybody together, the debate centers
around trying to repel your opponents instead of developing ideas.
Opposition in itself is not a bad thing, because it can help in the process
of development and clarification.  But obviously much of our opposition is
stagnant -- things go round in the same circles over and over again, and
there is no progress, especially when it comes to debating hoary issues such
as Stalinism and diamat.  I have no desire to interfere in other people's
discussions when I don't approve of their orientation as long as they stay
out of my space.  

Most of us have at one time had something useful to say about something.
But since we all lead busy lives we cease to introduce new subject matter
for discussion, become reactive instead of active, and only come alive when
someone provokes our anger, negativity being naturally a more powerful
stimulus than any other.  Every reorganization of the lists has resulted in
exhaustion.  Thaxis has rarely exhibited the vigor of m2 or the original
marxism list.

Perhaps we have demanded too much of spoons and too little of ourselves.  We
appeal to spoons as arbiter when fundamental ethical and organizational
questions come up, when what we need is an array of strong moderators
representing all permutations of possible list philosophies to sort out our
business before mixing spoons up in our craziness.



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