For what seems like forever, a certain list-serv list on a topic of academic research interest has been a mere dribble of traffic in my Inbox. Most of the traffic being the monthly “you’re subscribed to List-FOO” and occasional position postings, most of which are in the UK. I know I stopped monitoring the list in detail ever since I changed gears to a more dev-related role, professionally.
It would seem that someone on list had the temerity to post whether there was a discussion forum that was more actively addressing this academic question to the more-or-less dormant list. This being the academic silly season, a significant number of members are all twitterpated over a discussion as to why the list is dormant, whether the list is worth saving, and what can be done to rejuvenate the community.
Two interesting trends in the last two weeks:
- Long-standing personality conflicts are being aired for the first time in years
- Actual research questions are being asked again.
As to the second, I wonder where these people were asking their questions before the revival or if this is just guilt-based busy work, or maybe just a way to keep fingers in the pot. I also wonder just how busy the traffic would be if the initial question had been raised at a time that wasn’t between semesters. At any rate, it’s kind of amusing.