Thanks for the warning. As list-mistress (I really like the sound of
that!) it's ok with me if students subscribe en masse or one at a time.
Perhaps the teacher(s) can draw up a draft "how to use listserves" in
class that would be helpful to their students.
Actually, it would be helpful to me to see the sorts of guidelines
teachers would use about this. I think it is GOOD for teachers to
proactively get their students out there, rather than ignoring resources
and then being upset to see the students (mis)using them. But appropriate
use of Internet resources (such as discussion groups) is an important
topic for teaching faculty to consider. In fact, I have to run workshops
about this topic in the fall, hence my interest in the subject.
Laura Quilter / lauramd@uic.edu
Electronic Services Librarian
University of Illinois at Chicago
On Fri, 11 Jul 1997, Michael Marc Levy wrote:
> Hi Tess,
>
> Hope your class on SF and gender is fun. Don't be surprised, however,
> and I'm going on my experience last year in a similar class, if your
> students are a lot more conservative than you dreamed was possible.
>
> I have no objection whatsoever to students listening and even
> participating in this list, but, again based on experience with other
> lists--most notably in children's literature--I'd suggest that they not
> only have to know standard netiquette, but a couple of other things as
> well.
>
> First, it has to be made very clear to them that this list should not be
> used as a substitute for doing research. A question like "What did Elizabeth
> Cummins mean in her book on Ursula K. LeGuin when she said (whatever)?" is
> likely to be treated with more respect, than a question like "Are there any
> good books out there on Ursula K. Le Guin?" (although that one isn't really
> all that bad) or, worse yet "Why aren't there any good books on Ursula K.
> LeGuin?" (a question a student once asked on a children's lit list I'm on,
> believe it or not).
>
> Other bad questions I've seen asked by students who are on an academic or
> sercon list because they're taking a class in the subject include "Why do
> you guys have to take things so seriously?" "Why do you have to dig so
> deep into stuff? Why can't you just enjoy it?" "Don't you guys have any sense
> of humor?" (usually asked after the student, speaking out of ignornace, has
> said something incredibly insulting).
>
> Other problems:
>
> Students will occasionally ask questions that go beyond what's allowable in
> terms of getting help on their papers.
>
> Students will ask genuinely basic questions, that show that they haven't
> read the assigned readings for the class. This may even include a request
> for plot summaries, believe it or not.
>
> Students will occasionally quote material from the list verbatim in their
> own papers (plagarism), often without permission or documentation.
>
> Students who discover that a well-known author can be reached through the
> list, will occasionally bug that author well-beyond good manners. (You're
> famous, after all. What right do you have to privacy?)
>
> Tess, please note, I'm not trying to discourage you from signing up your
> students, but I've seen all these things happen, some of them quite
> frequentlym even after students have been warned about how to behave. The
> Child-Lit listserv had a very unpleasant experience with a class of students
> this past Spring, many of whom committed the above mentioned errors in great
> numbers.
>
> Mike Levy
>
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