Eric Storm:
>Is it the idea that one shouldn't push one's ideas on others the reason why
>the vast majority of people on a given list don't ever post anything? They
>are happily collecting the ideas and opinions of others, picking and
>choosing what they find useful, but they feel no obligation to return the
>favor by posting ideas and opinions of their own?
There are more students than teachers. There are more listeners than
speakers. There are more readers than authors. Teaching, speaking, writing
are vocations that demand a high level of skill. Most people recognize that
and refrain from casual writing for fear of looking bad or from
understanding that they are in a learning mode. Sometimes, once the fear is
overcome, the dam bursts. When I was teaching I encouraged strong class
participation and often said that the only dumb question was the one not
asked. Once students asked their first question and received a respectful
response, they asked more questions.
The Internet will change the dynamics of information flow. In the
beginning--now--the same people who dominate group conversations will
dominate mailing lists. As the Internet becomes more widely used, people
will learn faster. As interpersonal communication becomes more e-mail
oriented, people will develop greater writing skills and will use them.
Some people become enamored of seeing their names in print and write far
too much. The rest of us will endure or become skilled at hitting the
Delete button.
Because the Internet and mailing lists allow easy publication there is a
lot of material being e-published that is a waste of reading time. Many
people have personal Web sites that are ego expressive but of no help to
readers. Many articles published on the Internet would never see ink in a
non-Internet commercial publication. Your article in Jungle Echoes is an
example. Here we find too many (4,400) words of opinion and instruction
presented without facts--references, events, names, dates, places--just old
ideas and old words rearranged. Nothing new. A waste of this reader's time.
Gene GeRue, author,
How To Find Your Ideal Country Home: A Comprehensive Guide
http://www.ruralize.com/
