My participation looks something like this. I read over the list postings
in my inbox everyday, perusing topics and names of contributors as I make
my decision about what to read. There are some people's postings I will
always read and others I will not. If my work is particularly demanding, I
may skip certain lines of discussion and follow others. I often grow tired
of the more argumentative lines, particularly the ones that seem to be more
about insult than inquiry or theory building. I always appreciate Mike's
mediation during these times. I sometimes forward postings to colleagues
whose research might benefit, they usually like that and sometimes end up
as subscribers themselves. I save certain postings that are important to
me personally or that are relevant to my research. I always learn
something.
Regarding safety. I can tell you that I am always nervous contributing,
getting butterflies as I push the send button. I'm not sure if this is
related to safety. I do worry that something I say will end up in one of
those argument lines that I don't like. I'm intimidated, sometimes, when I
think of who might be reading my words. I think that as I grow as a
researcher and scholar, as my participation in the academic community
changes, this fear will subside.
Joanne
Joanne Larson
Box 270425 Dewey Hall
Warner Graduate School of Education
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY 14627
office: (716) 275-0900
fax: (716)473-7598
e-mail: joln who-is-at troi.cc.rochester.edu