[Winona Online Democracy] To Winona Online Democracy,
Yesterday (Friday, May 30), I thought I was posting to the list my responses to a couple of questions I'd gotten from WOD participants. I was apparently doing something wrong, though, because my responses didn't appear online. Now, because I don't want to be accused of dodging questions I don't want to answer, I'm going to post those responses in this message. The first is to a question from Dean Lanz; the question was, What was the point of my study? Mr. Lanz originally sent the question to me individually and then he posted it to the list. The second question came from Terry Hyle, who asked if I'd make my paper available online. I don't remember if she sent the post just to me or to the entire list, but I'd like the answer to be seen by everyone who's been following this discussion. If in so doing I've offended Ms. Hyle, let me apologize in advance. However, I can see no harm in the answer I provide (other than, of course, the possibility that some people might not like the answer, which is a completely different question). A final thing that I may have mentioned previously but that I want everybody on the list to be aware of: Since the online fur began to fly here, I've been contacted, either online in private e-mail or in person-to-person conversation, by at least three WOD subscribers who said they refrained from joining in the discussion for fear of being criticized or attacked by those who disagree with them. I mention that because it's exactly the sort of "silencing" that I believe can go on in any forum that's dominated by a small group of people of the same ideological ilk. Now here are the replies I sent yesterday to Mr. Lanz and Ms. Hyle: ��� (This is in reply to Mr. Lanz's question as to what the point of my study is.) Dean, I just had a computer (or computer-operator) glitch, so my earlier attempt to respond to your question may have been incomplete, garbled or nonexistent. Here's my second try, hopefully more successful: It's hard to boil 100 pages down into a sentence or two. But if I had to wring one key message out of my study, it would be something like this: Winona Online Democracy has thus far failed to create the "community-wide discussion" it aspires to in (what I believe is) its mission statement. The online discussions certainly aren't "community-wide" numerically, nor, it seems, are they "community-wide" in terms of involving a truly diverse group of participants, diverse both demographically and ideologically. That's my point. Steve Schild ��� (This is in response to a request to make my paper available online.) Ms. Hyle, I'll think about it. To be perfectly honest, the reception I've gotten from certain WOD posters has made me feel something less than giving. Perhaps a better reason for my reluctance to do so is the fact that my paper is now in the hands of reviewers for an academic journal that is very persnickety about publishing only research that is original--that is to say, unpublished in any other forum. I don't know if the journal editors would regard online publication as removing my paper from the ranks of the original. At some point, however, though I cannot at the moment say when, I plan to give copies of the full paper to the Winona Public Library as well as the libraries at Saint Mary's and Winona State and the archives at the Winona County Historical Society. I haven't approached any of those four places to see if they would accept a copy, but I certainly plan on making the offer. Based on the reasons above, that's as much as I have to say to your question at the moment. Steve Schild >===== Original Message From "terri hyle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ===== >[Winona Online Democracy] > >Dr. Schild: > >Would you consider posting your paper on WOD so that we might all benefit >from your research? I understand that it is very long, but perhaps as an >attachment it would work and be appropriate for those who wish to access it. > >Terri Hyle _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
