23529: Simidor: list tedium (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Daniel Simidor <karioka9@mail.arczip.com>


The Lavalas groupies, who bombard us daily with the pompous prose of our Caribbean brethren John Maxwell and Company, are not solely responsible for the sluggishness of the list.  At least their postings are from obscure and not so readily available sources.  The worst offenders in terms of redundancy and tedium are the daily postings from the mainstream press.  By now most people know how to bookmark a particular website or search result.  You can also set up Netscape or Internet Explorer to default to the latest news on Haiti, in the language of your choice, every time you log in.  You can even tune in to several radio stations broadcasting live in Haiti, without paying a dime.  So why clog the list with plain text articles and regurgitated news that are available elsewhere?  The Corbett list works best as a moderated forum for discussions and ideas.

Another problem is that there are far too many lurkers and not enough dialogue on the list.  There is still a sizable population of journalists, activists and scholars in Corbettland, why are they so quiet?  Fear?  Nothing to say?  Folks jealously guarding their thoughts and waiting for the Proper Academic Venue?

For some reason the people in power in Haiti and those who deal with policy issues around Haiti in this country pay some attention to what is being said on this list.  I have been attacked and denigrated enough for my humble opinions here to know that they matter to some people.  But more importantly, the list provides an opportunity to continue the dialogue on a particular event or topic well after it has fallen off the news.

Without sustained public interest on Haiti’s ecological peril, the charcoal nightmare, and the urgent task of rebuilding the country’s natural environment, the government (any government) is sure to sweep those issues under the rug.  The notion that the atmosphere on the list has been poisoned by personal and political animosity is just a poor excuse not to get involved.

Daniel Simidor