Date: Thu, 19 May 94 09:56:13 EDT
From: ma-AT-dsd.camb.inmet.com (Malgosia Askanas)
To: technology-AT-world.std.com
Subject: This list


First of all, I would like to thank you all for expressing your views
on whether or not my post seemed like a flame.  

Since I am the moderator of this group, I can hardly take up TorTorsen's
suggestion that I disregard his posts.  Instead, I believe, Tor and I 
will have to learn to understand and accommodate each other's language. 

However, the Virilio discussion has exposed an issue about which I 
would like to ask your opinions.  It is my impression that this list
contains people from varied backgrounds.  The issues surrounding
technology touch almost everybody.  My vision of this list is that
it should permit all of its participants to become aware of, and avail
themselves, of existing intellectual tools with which to probe into 
these issues, and allow them to productively think about and discuss 
technology as it affects all of our lives.

The Conley book is rather difficult to read "cold", which -- given my
lack of philosophical background -- is how I am reading it.  Because of 
my desire to facilitate a general discussion, I have not heretofore
thought of my own "coldness" as an impediment; rather, I thought that
it would permit me to naturally bring about a level of discussion that
would allow other laymen on the list to benefit and participate.
However, I am now having doubts about this approach.  For example,
I perceive myself as forcing Steven Meinking into a level of
explanation which, although of interest to me, may be of no interest 
or benefit to him.  It is definitely not my intention to put Steven,
or anybody else, in a position where their time is taken up by
catering to my idiosyncratic vision of this list. 

So what I need to know is: what kind of discussion do you all want?
Are the people who understand the background of the Conley book
interested in mediating between the book and those who, like myself,
do not have the requisite background, or should I stop trying to bring 
this about?  Do most of the people who do not have the background 
simply intend to lurk, or will they participate if the circumstances
are right?  What would be the right circumstances? 

In other words, what kind of a list would you like this to be, and
what kind of moderator does it call for? 


- malgosia