Re: pen-l etiquette

[Chris Burford <cburford@xxxxxxxxxx>]

At 07/07/01 09:12 -0700, you wrote:
> Chris, you have "refuted" Lou P. twice this morning.  Please, he is no
> longer here, so this does no good now.


Well Lou no doubt browses and also considers how best to use his time. He
has promoted his list as a internet feature and wishes to be influential.

There is nothing improper in this comment he made on 21st June about this
list on the World Systems Network:

> I have been in a
> battle on my own mailing list and on PEN-L defending a world systems
> approach to the origins of capitalism in opposition to Brenner and Wood.

One could argue about definitions here, but there is no doubt that LP
considers this list and his own as in the public realm.

 Besides, with respect, I am doing something more complicated than merely
to refute some of what he says. I am laying a marker for reference in case
some may think I accept I was baiting him. If he returns in a week's time,
it might then seem unduly challenging to greet him immediately with the
posts I made today. He can now read them in the archives if he wishes or
skim over them as he may also well wish.

Besides too, lines of demarcation are important to serious debate whatever
individuals are involved. To LP's credit his recent drawing of swords with
Hardt, brings his perceived line of demarcation up to the present era. It
involves political responses to how we characterise globalisation, rather
than fighting "Kautskyism" by proxy over historical interpretations of
almost prehistoric labour systems.

What is not clear is whether LP wants to draw line of demarcation to
facilitate theoretical unity, or to split. This will become clear over the
weeks and months.

But if he sees that issues of substance are being discussed on this list,
which interest him, he might feel the pressure to contribute again, and
learn more effective ways to deal in debate with people he sees as liberals
or social democrats.

Perhaps Michael you could post a definition of the aims and conventions of
PEN-L. I see for example that  the World System's Network states:

> WSN is an electronic conferencing network and information source for
> scholars and researchers who are studying world-systems. The purpose of
> WSN is to facilitate the sharing of information about research, data,
> publications, announcements, meetings, syllabi, commentary, book reviews,
> scuttlebut and etc.


Chris Burford