Shelley signing off the list

[Guest guest]

I agree with amy's post. But, I would note the following. I keep

reading, in several different lists and locations, how e-mail makes it

hard for people to pick up on the humor, and makes statements appear

extreme. I don't buy it. I think the reader brings something to the

e-mail message as well. Perhaps we have been conditioned, by off-list

experience, to expect the worst in people. Perhaps we are too quick to

read the message in the least charitable manner. Perhaps readers--and I

include myself in this, if it is not already clear that I do--could try to

read e-mail messages as if the intent is not to offend, not to provoke,

and not to dismiss. Only if *no* charitable reading appears possible

would it seem necessary to raise an issue about the communication. And,

even the raising of the issue would be more productive if it were phrased

as a respectful question, e.g., not " Why did you write that ridiculous

comment? " but, instead, " Did I understand you to say X (respectful

description) or was I mistaken? Please clarify. "

 

So, yes, writers have a role to play in being clear. But, hey,

communication takes the efforts of reader and writer, speaker and

listener. Both have roles to play in making " talk " work.

 

Just an effort to ease communication, on- and off-list.

 

Take care.

Sam