I've been reading this discussion with increasing dismay. At first, I was encouraged by the collegiality, but now I think we are grasping for civility and understanding. As I read the emails on this set of topics, I'm compelled to provide another concrete example - as Karen and Deborah have tried to accomplish quite valliantly.
I'd like for everyone to consider the concept of microaggression: “brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative slights and insults toward people based on race, gender and/or ability." Wikipedia provides a good introduction for those of you who have never heard of this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microaggression I'm hoping that everyone will take a moment to think about whether or not you agree with me that some of the current discussion on CODE4LIB fits this definition. And what that means for us as a community and then to consider how we move forward. My plea is the same as Karen's Listen. Ask questions if you don't understand. And have respect for the experiences of others. -- Kathryn La Barre President ISKO C/US Associate Professor Graduate School of Library and Information Science University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign -- Kathryn La Barre President ISKO C/US Associate Professor Graduate School of Library and Information Science University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign