[Theforum] Roll Call

Erika Meyer emeyer at lclark.edu
Tue Oct 30 16:56:33 CST 2001


Madhu wrote:

>(For the curious, the "dh" sound in Madhu is like the "the" sound 
>with an added soft "d" emphasis. Oh, it's impossible to explain in 
>email.)

not impossible.  I'd call it a "soft d."  From the way you describe.

Not a common English sound, but common in other languages.  Russian 
has one I think...

>2) The US influence seems to be a bit heavy. I suppose this is 
>because many members are American, but still...
>When someone makes a cultural reference, I'm sometimes at a loss to 
>figure out what he or she means. For example, a reference to, say, 
>Starbucks. Assuming that everyone knows what Starbucks is/sells 
>isn't a wise move. (I used Starbucks as an example because they're 
>very well known.)

The list is US heavy.  A lot of us would that it were not so.

In that regards, I recommend a combo of patience and assertiveness. 
And understand that it is very easy to navel-gaze in the US, for a 
variety of reasons.  We need our asses kicked occasionally to help us 
lift our gaze.

I don't think there is anything wrong with someone responding with a 
question (for clarification of cultural references) or with an 
alternative POV.

Just understand that US citizens have a tendency to be geographically 
and cross-culturally challenged.  Work with us, Madhu.  Kick our 
asses.

In a similar vein, I'd like to see more women and more designers.

>3) Sometimes I wonder if some of the designers feel alienated with a 
>few of the tech-heavy discussions that take place.

Speaking for myself, not alienated so much as not particularly interested...

>I know that one of the admins feels this way. Being a techie, I love 
>them, but I just wonder. I know that when something, say, 
>PHP-related, comes up, I just skip it entirely because it's 
>something I know nothing about.

Nothing wrong with skipping threads... either long opinionated 
threads or on discussions outside of your field.

>The annoying:
>1) I hate it when people quote a message verbatim and don't trim 
>their posts. The listmom of another list I'm on makes sure that 
>people don't do this by rejecting a message to the list if it 
>contains a certain footer that is automatically added to the end of 
>every message.

Why does Steve refer to himself as a mom?  Why not a dad?

>2) Damn time difference (India is 10.5 to 12.5 hours ahead of USA). 
>By the time I get the digest, somebody will have already helped 
>someone out.

Why not subscribe non-digest and filter it into a special box?

I've had 2 a.m. exchanges with people in Australia...

>3) Dan, run a grammar/spelling check on your messages please. (ha ha 
>ha, couldn't resist that one. You know I jest, right?)

you're not the first to have suggested that.

>>Do you have a cat?
>
>No. I dislike cats intensely. I'll never have a cat, not in this lifetime.

meow!

Erika
-- 




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