Dear ECOFEMers:
One of the least enjoyable tasks of being ECOFEM coordinator is
having to intervene in conversations when the list's protocol have
been breached. And, the protocol have been breached during the
"veggie debate" as the conversation has escalated to inflammatory
statements based on personal attack and base stereotyping.
I have already notified two list members that their e-mail has
breached the ECOFEM protocol, especially with regard to flaming,
respect & dignity. As such, this stands as a "caution," and further
action will be taken if the behaviours continue.
I would also like to take this time to remind ALL members to read
and review the protocol which are sent in my monthly updates
regarding (un)subscribing. ECOFEM is premised upon open
dialogue, and sometimes (often, really) this means that a number
of members will disagree--fervently and to the point of having to
"agree to disagree." The ECOFEM list is NOT against open
exchange, but the protocol are established to ensure that such
debates are held in a respectful environment which includes the
integrity and dignity of each participant. Using personal attacks,
stereotyping, and the like are not appropriate forms of exchange;
they are breaches of ECOFEM protocol.
In addition, using up considerable "band-width" (i.e., message
space) on the ECOFEM list can cause problems for subscribers in
terms of time and money. Please remember to keep your posts
relatively short (2-3 screens at most). If a conversation which is
only interesting to a handful of members wishes to continue, then
the discussants should take the conversation off the public (i.e.,
ECOFEM) forum and move into private dialogue. Doing so saves
ECOFEM members time and money (if they pay to receive their
e-mail messages, as many do) while allowing discussants to
pursue their interests. Another option for subscribers is to bundle
messages thorough the "digest" function. This bundles multiple
messages into only a couple of ECOFEM messages per day and
thereby ensures that 100+ messages are not listed individually
when you open your mailbox.
As longer term subsribers know, I do not intervene often. This is
because ECOFEM's membership and topics include a variety of
perspectives and conversation is regarded as integral to an
ecofeminist philosophy and pedagogy. However, this process is
also premised upon the creation and maintenance of a healthy
speaking and communication space. I prefer list members to
contribute to its maintenance because this is less coercive, and
more participatory, than my stepping in as an "authority" figure.
Unfortunately, I am required to intervene at times to ensure the
maintenenace of ECOFEM's communicative space.
I appreciate everyone's patience with my comments here, and I now
ask that we all work on ensuring that ECOFEM returns to a healthy
conversation space. Please do not see this as a censure of the
"veggie debate," however. Vegetarianism is a perennial topic on
ECOFEM which ultimately explores a number of deeply held
beliefs and values, and this is appropriate on ECOFEM. However,
such a discussion can be held with respect and informed
arguments, rather than resorting to base personal attacks or
generic stereotypes which inflame rather than inform conversation.
Unfortunately, in the almost six years of coordinating this list, I
have never seen this topic move beyond the level of diatribe or
personal attacks. Perhaps, this time, it could move to a more
informed, respectful conversation?
I look forward to our continued journey of discussions.
In peace,
Stefanie Rixecker
ECOFEM Coordinator
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Dr. Stefanie S. Rixecker
Division of Environmental Management & Design
Lincoln University, Canterbury
PO Box 84
Aotearoa New Zealand
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Fax: 64-03-325-3841
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