Quite awhile ago (a couple years, maybe) JulieZWebb, who hosted one of
the first in-person Joni fests, posted a long insightful account of the
psychological logistics of hosting a list get-together. How there were
egos to be negotiated and list squabbles to remember and sort out,
people to keep separated, etc. At the time I read that post, I was
fairly new to the list and thought it sounded overly complicated and
pessimistic. Now that I've hung around long enough, I think she was
right on the money. The list can be a fantastic place to be, and it can
also be quite complicated and perilous. And thats not a problem unique
to this list-- it is part of the cyber beast. Or will be until
everyone considers the responsibly attached to free speech. Its not an
excuse for thoughtlessness or a lack of restraint. Yeah, you can delete
and ignore, but wading through all the negative to delete and ignore
takes its toll, too. At least that's my experience.
I don't know the particulars of what's up with Kakki, and I agree that
it was her personal decision to leave, but when someone who has been so
generous both with the larger community and with dozens of individual
listers, someone who, IMO, has been as fair and accepting and balanced
as anybody else on the list--when somebody like her just can't take it
anymore, then I'd say its not her problem alone.
I'm profoundly sorry she has gone. Feels like someone leeched the light
out of the room.
Catherine T.
