Listserv Colleagues:
As one who has experienced the slings and arrows of this wonderful, sometimes
wise, sometimes sanctimonious discussion list, I have been hesitant to add
fuel to a growing fire. But Sheryl Wilhite's comments are so thoughtful and
well-balanced, I must say "well done." And "well done" as well to Ted's very
professional retraction this afternoon. There are at LEAST two sides to this
story, but I think that those who have gotten to know Ted over the many years
of his involvement with ARLIS know that he is, indeed, a good man. Good men
and women who work as hard as people do when they are ARLIS
officers--especially in the last few weeks before the national
conference--deserve to be given a break. As Sheryl says, "Librarians are
friendly, approachable people, but we're also human." Haven't you ever
accidentally forwarded an email to a listserv instead of the individual for
whom it was intended? People working in NYC, as does Ted--and many others of
our colleagues--during and after September 11 deserve a special break. Yes,
I understand why Mr. Omar feels insulted--and Ted has apologized--now let's
get down off our high horses and see this situation for what it is--an
example of how complicated communication, especially electronic
communication, can be, especially in the strange times in which we live
today.
No matter what you think of this particular situation, the 4,000+ diverse
subscribers to this listserv are not necessarily represented by any
individual posting. And contrariwise, unsubscribing to this list will not
shelter you from bad ideas. It will only shield you from exposure to a very
broad range of thoughts and personalities--overwhelming in their sheer number
at times, but very often stimulating--reflecting the opinions and ideas of
not only long-time ARLIS members but of (thank goodness!) younger enthusiasts
as well.
Joan Benedetti (an Older Enthusiast--and ARLIS member)
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