EDNote: I paste here two more posts on the matter of what constitutes
the proper mode for contributing to Nabokv-L. I have rendered them
anonymous, although the authors attached their names, because I'm
concerned that this debate could take on a too-personal flavor. We
have had some suggestions about trying to make subject lines serve as
more explicit markers of content--research vs., say, spontaneous
reader-response, or pop-culture, etc. We're thinking things over and
remain open to further suggestions. On the whole, the great majority
of those who have expressed some concerns about overabundant posts have
stated that they do not want to see the list restricted in a formal
way. So the editors take these occasional expressions of unease as
signs of the community's effort to self-regulate. We don't always let
these through, but when we do, we ask that all participants assume that
they are meant in a constructive and good-natured tone. If we stomp
out all traces of irony in these and other posts (some of you
know too well what I'm talking about, I'm afraid), the list may become
dry indeed.
Conveniently, there is one message from each side. I'm going to close
the public debate with these for now, but encourage further thoughts to
be sent to me direct by clicking the link below.
~SB
Comment
#1:
Although I
would tend to second this
thought by M Voss, ultimately participants who treat NABOKOV-L as their
own personal
blog to record every whisper of a thought
that passes
through their heads are only defeating themselves. I imagine that those
delete
buttons are being pressed ever more frequently…
Comment #2, and last:
While I greatly appreciate
those who bring original research direct to the list, I also enjoy
threads in which interests are raised, discussed, different listmembers
bring things to the discussion, and conclusions are reached as a
result. Like Jansy, I would hate to see that process hampered because
some listees object to expending energy clicking their delete buttons.