Re: [-empyre-] -empyprean- signal to noise

[Kathy Rae Huffman <kahuffm@attglobal.net>]

Hello - post ISEA (for me).

I didn't post to empyre during ISEA because, because -- to be honest, I got 
lost in the personal exchanges that were going on.  I think that the topic 
The LIST -- this is a topic based discussion list after all -- has been 
totally disregarded, and it leaves many people without a clue of how to 
participate.

Is there no other way to conduct personal exchanges, to find out the small 
things that don't involve the topic, without using up the list?  You are 
able to see who is posting and write to them personally -- we all do that 
instead of using up list energy when there is something that we are not 
sure we understand.  Then, if it seems important, you can summarize (but 
not post the personal exchange under any circumstances) your understanding.

This is simply my own opinion, of course, but the thread of this discussion 
has almost gone too far off the track.  Is it because we (guests) have not 
guided the discussion during ISEA?  Do the people making personal exchanges 
have no other means to talk to colleagues or friends about their other 
ideas?  Do we need to compose a list of lists, where free conversation can 
take place on any topic, and where the list has some topic guidelines?  Do 
we need to review net ettiquette once more?

There were some interesting points brought up at the panel during ISEA that 
could benefit from some more discussion, and interaction here.  For 
example, I'd like to know more about artists projects that are LIST 
based.  It is a fascinating idea to me -- and I don't know many of them at 
the moment.  What better place to get the information and then go to them, 
and continue this discussion further. Is netbehaviour (for example) notr a 
private artistic project?

Now, I'm taking a big chance by posting this opinion, I feel awfully like 
I'm breaking into a personal phone conversation.  AND, I'm not asking for 
brutal attacks on my uncomfortable reaction to the way the discussion is 
going, I simply find that ongoing personal exchanges get very boring to 
read and are exclusive.

I'm interested to pick up on an important topic to us all - the social 
space of the net...LISTS.

Thanks, Kathy

At 11:22 16/08/2004 -0700, you wrote:
> Dear empyreans,
>
>
> Here is a quote from Melinda's introduction to the month on networkomania:
>
>
> > Facilitators and writers for lists with diverse intents and formats .....
> > examine ethical issues and
> > strategies in networking and list management to encourage an workable ratio
> > of signal to noise - harnessing this ubiquitous communication medium.>
>
>
> Melinda is traveling to ISEA and will join us soon.  She is the lead
> moderator for this month.  But for those of us not at the conference, and
> until she can rejoin us, it is important to keep discussion on empyre
> focussed on substantive conceptual issues while remaining civil to one
> another.  This means that derogatory remarks regarding the character or
> personal decisions of anyone either on this list or off, must not be allowed
> to continue further than has occurred in this current exchange.
>
> I have just logged on and read the recent suite of posts.
>
> I beg all of you to please be attentive to the particular ethos of the
> -empyrean- space, which is distinctive among lists for its attempt and
> desire for a rather  stringent topical and rhetorical organization.
>
>
> The issues being discussed relative to performance and political issues,
> publishing and the nature of community are, needless to say, far from
> trivial.  As Melinda says here, these are ethical issues.
>
> It's not whether to discuss these ethical issues, rather, how.
>
> -empyreans- have  been particularly successful so far in keeping personal
> attack to nil or minimum presence.
>
> Personal grievance is not part of the remit of -empyre- because its
> moderation code tries to maintain a foundation, not in content, but in form,
> or etiquette if you will.
>
> Being human and too busy we will screw up from time to time but please bear
> with us regarding this matter of courtesy.
>
>   Because of its formality, empyre  desires to maintain a rather public and
> neutral space; open and even inviting,  to the participation of those who
> are not at the 'center' of new media discourse.  The intent on empyre is to
> leave a space that is international in character and tightly focussed on
> specific topics of international interest.
>
> Critical discourse, of a kind that avoids vendettas while making incisive
> observations, becomes substantive and useful to the broadest readership when
> it focuses on the advancement of an impersonal or transpersonal concept.
> Thus empyre becomes an open work (in the sense explored by Umberto Eco).
>
>  -empyre- will quickly lose the interest and attention of many of its
> readers if leadership (including me) fails to maintain the diplomacy of this
> space.
>
> Certainly the underlying issues, such as what constitutes 'publishing'
> online and whether lists are publishing venues, are of great interest.
>
> The quotation below from our opening page states this in a more negative
> fashion, but,  in general, please be aware of these guidelines especially
> this month.
>
> Thanks everyone,
>
> Christina
>
>
>
>
>  The facilitators reserve the right to not publish
> > posts that disregard these guidelines, or the current month's topics,
> > disrespect the featured guests, or monopolize the forum either via 
> individuals
> > or group, and may unsubscribe anyone consistently doing so.
> >
>
> cm
>
>
> --
>  soundart performance videoinstallation multimedia painting theory
>
>
> <www.christinamcphee.net>
> <www.naxsmash.net>
> <www.naxsmash.net/inscapes>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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