a 3:45pm vote from Seattle

[Beth Kalikoff <kalikoff@u.washington.edu>]

Hi.

I have enjoyed WCenter for the four months I've subscribed.  I've 
learned a lot about WC evaluations, teaching, etc. After reading all 
the discussion about whether to change the default, my vote is to keep 
the default as it is.  But mine is a reluctant vote:  I think all of us, 
myself included, could be more selective and considerate about choosing 
whether our messages go out to everyone. 

More importantly, I would like to see WCenter as a place where we 
can disagree with each other respectfully, even passionately. 
Disagreement doesn't endanger the on-line community. Quite the 
contrary. Disagreement is instructive and necessary. Otherwise, 
even the "nicest" community risks being coercive. Wendy and others 
brought up important points about audience, purpose, and the nature 
of WCenter. They deserve respectful consideration, no matter how many 
"votes" they represent. 

Thanks for your patience.  I'll conclude with a potentially perky anecdote, 
lest I seem to lack--the horror, the horror--"Holiday Spirit."  
The last writer I saw at the WC this quarter asked what kind of writing 
I studied. I said: Expository Writing." He said: "Suppository Writing?"

Seasonally, 

Beth Kalikoff  [kalikoff@u.washington.edu]