Re: xmca discussions

Judy Diamondstone (diamonju who-is-at rci.rutgers.edu)
7 Aug 1999 18:06:39 -0000

Mike, Eugene, Paul, & all,

>I repeat the general sense of my first note pertaining to this
>>thread. It is not helpful to engage in ad hominum comments or to try
>>to win arguments by overpowering people. It is helpful to assume that
>>you are dealing with decent people with very different experiences and
>>backgrounds and partial knowledge, and to explore issues in that light.
>> Or so I believe.

This has been for me a helpful discussion, though I have not been helpful in
it. The reference to "self-interested" & unself-critical participation on
xmca hit the target in my self-critical reflections this morning. It's not
an easy community to enter or re-enter for very good reasons. It's such a
very thoughtful and respectful place to be.

>My own preference, as you have noted, is to enter discussions
>either of matters pertaining to the explicit purpose of the list--
>to study the relationships between mind, culture, and activity as
>an academic undertaking (my own personal focus is on developent, so
>that is what I am most likely to discuss) or on the conduct of the
>discourse itself (since I value the learning it affords).

While these are good and rightly privileged topics for discussion, I would
regret an xmca without the self-reflexive musings that have made the list
for me a particularly important one.

My own participation on xmca, in the wake of a difficult year, has not been
careful or mindful. I keep seeing the text of it, in my inbox. Dismayed --
too late. I offer my sincere apologies to all. Time to pay attention.

Judy

(time for a new signature)

Judith Diamondstone (732) 932-7496 Ext. 352
Graduate School of Education
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
10 Seminary Place
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1183