Paul or anyone,
I once had my advanced grammar students read this list as one way to prepare them for professional discourse and thinking on grammar. Now, I am too ashamed of this list, and I'm afraid that just deleting posts does nothing to make this a better forum and site for people new to the professions we represent. If it were just me reading, fine. I could just ignore and delete. But in an age of electronic communication, these discussions represent our disciplines in ways we perhaps cannot imagine. Even people who have never been ATEG members scoff at what they have heard of our 'discussions' and mean-spirited posts. I worry about what little credibility we have left.
Honestly, is there anything else that can be done? I'm not wise in the way of the politics or technical logistics of a list, but I'd really like to have my students see intelligent discussions of grammar, language, and learning. What we're seeing too often is far from representative of the thinking of our field--or the thinking and collegiality of the majority of ATEG members. Still, the list is becoming defined in terms of unproductive, personal attacks, and I could not recommend it right now to anyone, other than Dr. Phil.
Larry
Larry Beason
Associate Professor & Composition Director
Dept. of English, 240 HUMB
Univ. of South Alabama
Mobile AL 36688
(251) 460-7861
>>> "Paul E. Doniger" <[log in to unmask]> 08/28/10 8:33 AM >>>
Carole, John, et all,
There is no good purpose to responding to to uncivil e-mails. I've said it
before, and I repeat it here, the best response to the devil is silence. The
more we engage with rude postings, the more of them will be posted on the
listserve. The "Delete" button is a good friend.
Paul
"If this were play'd upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbable
fiction" (_Twelfth Night_ 3.4.127-128).
________________________________
From: Carole Hurlbut <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Sat, August 28, 2010 12:34:47 AM
Subject: Re: Traffic Surge
Brad,
Your last response has no place on a listserv. The insults are a poor reflection
on our profession.
Carole
----- Original Message -----
>From: Brad Johnston
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Sent: Friday, August 27, 2010 9:34 PM
>Subject: Re: Traffic Surge
>
>
>John,
>
>I'm sorry your wife left you for another man, or was it a woman? I've heard it
>both ways. But your anger is misdirected at me. I really had nothing to do with
>it. I don't even know him, or her, as the case may be.
>
>
________________________________
From: John Eleen <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Sent: Fri, August 27, 2010 4:55:40 PM
>Subject: Re: Traffic Surge
>
>Brad,
>
>
>You missed the point entirely, as expected, and like always, you lack
>justification in your arguments.
>
>On Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 11:31 AM, Brad Johnston <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>>
>>It is said the average American doesn't understand sentences with more than 13
>>words. (oops, that's 14). Was a sentence with 11 words too much for you, John?
>>
>>There are three more words after "An option would be to keep the linguists".
>> Look at it again. Maybe you can grasp "but ban linguistics". Those three little
>>words finished the thought.
>>
>>Try it again. You can do it.
>>
>>Sorry, John. I'll try to write shorter, simpler sentences in the future. We want
>>everyone, even the slow, to be able to stick with us. (13 words)
>>
>>(You're trying too hard to be ugly, John. Give it up. Let it go. Everyone has a
>>'delete' option. They don't need your help.)
>>
>>
>>
>>
________________________________
From: John Eleen <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Sent: Fri, August 27, 2010 1:35:45 PM
>>Subject: Re: Traffic Surge
>>
>>
>>
>>You seem not to have an interest in grammar either, judging by your impeccable
>>reasoning skills.
>>
>>A B
>>Linguists -> may crowd grammar out
>>
>>Your option:
>> A
>>Keep the linguists.
>>
>>Brad, this is why no one here takes you seriously. They give you the rope and
>>you do the rest.
>>
>>
>>On Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 5:08 AM, Brad Johnston <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>Have you noticed the surge in grammar traffic since someone suggested the
>>linguists may be crowding grammar out?
>>>
>>>An option would be to keep the linguists but ban linguistics. Linguists have an
>>>interest in grammar, even if vice is not versa.
>>>
>>
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>
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________________________________
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