Quality of the PKT list charset=US-ASCII

["Brent McClintock, Prof. Economics" <mcclin1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Amen to Ric's intervention re the deterioration in the quality of the list
discussion.

I am one of the moderators on the IPE list running out of the
csf.colorado.edu site. The anonymous commentator Ric quotes has it about
right re the experience with moderation of a list. The IPE list is not
subject to flame wars and a lot of "noise" -- way off topic, sub/unsub
commands incorrectly sent to the discussion list rather list manager etc.
Believe me that's a positive thing cf. what happened prior to moderation.
Moderation can't raise the quality of the discussion, though. That comes from
the participants.

I've hung around on the list much longer than many people who I know and
respect working in the PK tradition have departed. I'm about to undertake
another one of my departures (I keep coming back for some strange reason ;)).
There are "outbreaks" of PK-related interest, eg recent discussion on recent
US econ growth, but increasingly they are that -- outbreaks. Witness the lack
of attention given to Minsky's significant contribution to PKT in the year of
his death. Where else might one expect to read a discussion about Minsky's
work but on PKT? Many of those who might have much to contribute to such a
discussion, apart from the indefatigable Randy Wray, have long since left the
list.

Sorry to all those of you out there with your personalized 10 point plans for
this or that (I sincerely wish you well with them) -- I came here for a PK
conversation. It ain't been happening for the past 2 or more years.

And before anyone starts getting into the "it's your responsibility to get in
there and contribute too": a) i don't have to hear the sound of my own voice
(figuratively) 3-4 times a day; b) i don't presume that many people would be
interested; and, c) after participating in the past, enthusiasm just dwindles
with the flood of "noise" on this list. I'd like to learn more about how PK
thought is evolving but I think I have to find that somewhere else.

Gresham's Law seems to work as well for the Info highway as medieval coinage.

Apologies for the long post. I figure it's only my second or so in 2-3 months.
I've enjoyed most of the seminars and some of the threads that stick somewhat
to a PK theme.

Cheers,

Brent McClintock
Economics
Carthage College
Kenosha, Wisconsin 53140-1994