Jim wrote: <<When I first subscribed to the JMDL, I jumped in with both feet and posted a lot. It didn't take long for me to retreat into lurk mode, by choice, but I've faithfully read every JMDL Digest for about a year and a half now. Why did I retreat? The truth is that the high level of interpersonal communication that exists here on the JMDL makes me uncomfortable, at least from a participatory standpoint.>>
Thanks for your thoughts, Jim. I always like hearing from the silent majority that is the lurker contingent on the JMDL. I remember your posts well and have enjoyed them...I'm sorry you felt the need to retreat. However, I've got to disagree with most of your conclusions regarding the JMDL. Lurking's fine, but it doesn't make you Sigmund Freud, B.F. Skinner or Abraham Maslow. Email is, by definition, an interpersonal medium. I can't fathom what you expected to read when you joined the list, but it must've become obvious in short order that you weren't going to get it. To me, a post from you on why you stayed on the JMDL would be more illuminating to read than why you retreated to lurkdom. I've been on this list since it's inception, almost. I'm here to tell you I feel like I know almost all there is to know about one Roberta Joan Anderson Mitchell. Anyone who wants to think, post and read about Joni Mitchell and her oeuvre, brilliant as it is, every single day of their lives, is obsessive, compulsive and probably delusional. I'm not. This discussion list is predicated on the life and *times* of Joni, and to me, that spells the people who appreciate her and *their* lives. How her music finds expression in their relationships, and vice versa. You can find out all the Joni Mitchell facts you want on JoniMitchell.com or jmdl.com, sonicnet.com or your local library. The JMDL is not a Joni Mitchell wire service. It is not a Joni Mitchell fan club. News flash!: It IS a social club, of sorts. That's not necessarily a bad thing, in view of the alternatives. > I think the personality you've allowed the JMDL to develop has its pros and > cons, but as a fan of Joni Mitchell's, I think it's mostly cons. I believe > the "loving, caring community" you strive for sets you up for these constant > petty wars. The JMDL is in a constant state of evolution and has a life of its own, Jim. I laugh when I think of one, or a group of JMDLers trying to influence the development of this forum one way or the other, as you're suggesting might be possible. Imagine. Actually, I think the mysterious "inner circle" has tried to guide with their consciences, but a lot of them have uns.ubscribed lately, ironically. At the end of the day, all you can do is kick someone off to enforce any tenents. All anyone can do to improve this list is start with the man or woman in the mirror and try to put their best foot forward when communicating here. I wonder what your rules for the perfect JMDL might be...and how you'd enforce them? I think most of us are doing the best we can to make the JMDL social club a pleasant and fulfilling set of experiences, all according to our particular gifts. But clearly, if you're not into love, caring and community you've stumbled upon the wrong list, I think. I'm not sure it's being "strived" for, but I know it somehow thrives here, and certainly these are some of the emotions that attracted me to Joni and her music. >Some people here have so much of their ego and self-image invested in their "JMDL > image" that slights are seen where none are intended. There's a constant > need by some on the list to be seen as the most eloquent, or the most > sensitive, or the most knowledgeable and well-read, or the most caring, and, > when there's so much, by so many, invested in that kind of thing, this > circle game of war and peace on the list is bound to "reoccur" (intended > Joni-related humor there). There's all this talk about how much everybody > loves one another so much. > > With love and best wishes (say what you will, because I do care for you > knuckleheads), > Jim This is where you really go overboard with the amateur psychology bit. How are you qualified to know what anyone else has "invested" in this list? How can you speak to someone else's motivation to be here or post here when you can't even reconcile your own? You can't, or won't, post with any regularity out of protest over the quality of the communications here, right? But you can't bring yourself to leave either, the ultimate protest. It's like complaining about the "Jerry Springer" show on the TV, how apalling it is. Turn the freaking channel, why don't you? Don't read the posts! You say the list is too touchy-feely, but yet you close with how much you love and care about us knuckleheads. I'm not trying to be insulting here, I swear, but you've got me confused. For my part, I offer This List one guarantee: when I leave or "retreat" to lurking, there will be no weepy farewell, no guilt to impart on everyone as a parting shot because you all didn't soothe me when I cried out, or come to my defense when I felt I had been slighted. Nor will I complain that you all didn't talk about Joni enough. There will be no mass psychoanalysis, no blanket aspirtions cast, nor value judgements rendered. There will simply be a few keystrokes from me to the listserver, and I will be gone. I will be missed, or I will be missed not. But I will have no regrets and I will not complain that I didn't get what I wanted or thought I was entitled to from the JMDL. With love, Julius
