Re: now what post-JED?

[Aimee <vanwagea@bc.edu>]

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Batz seems to be proposing we seek a (Habbermasian) 
rational communicative space.

I really do not believe such an 
ideal, rational 
communicative environment exists or can exist.  I also 
have serious doubts that such an environment is 
desireable.  I don't think checking "identity politics" 
or any politics at the door is a positive move.  It 
leaves me pretty dry.


> 
> 
> If there can be some agreement about not baiting, nor taking the bait,
> then we can learn from each other. 
> Asking that ad homonim arguments, appeals to authority, unsubstantiated
> or unreferenced statistics, and identity politics be saved for 
> Usenet, might foster a more communicative environment. 
> 
> Who decides what is On Topic? 
> 
> Ultimately anyone that posts to the list is dictating what is 
> on topic. As long as people re-read their posts and make sure
> they are speaking for the benefit of the further information
> of list members, it should be sane. 

I don't see this list as just information exchange.  It's 
dialogue, clarification, rhetoric, theory, politics.

> 
> Are you contributing new facts or evidence to a discussion?
> Is your question rhetorical or do you actually require clarification?

Can I point out,( and this is certainly not for the 
purpose of the furthering the information exchange to 
benefit list members), that the above question is a 
rhetorical question?

Okay, so the point of that point was to try and be cute 
and clever.  But the other point is that we can't talk 
"for the benefit of all" or to get at some ideal 
communicative action.  Our words are political moves even as 
they purport to be apolitical; they are almost always 
rhetorical power moves.

> Can your post be shortened and maintain its original meaning? 
> (this message ends real soon now)

Now this rule, I'm down with ;)

Anway, I'm also down with Stefan Wray's proposal to add a 
radical filter to the list.


aimee


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