Re: Where are the girls? - long posting

[John Mallinckrodt <ajmallinckro@CSUPOMONA.EDU>]

As only a portion of a lengthy and thoughtful posting,
on Mon, 1 Nov 1999, Margaret Mazzolini wrote:

> g) The way many debates are conducted on phys-l does not inspire
> confidence in the diffident would-be participant - and especially in
> women (not-so-totally unsubstantiated assertion No. 4) I have had
> correspondence off list with at least one woman ex-participant who got
> flamed because her wording of a perfectly reasonable comment about
> Physics on the list was slightly loose, and was very unhappy about the
> experience.
>
> A lot of you guys have been enjoying 'full and frank' interchanges of
> views about your pet debates for years, and are probably the best of
> friends. However the diffident newcomer to the list is going to see the
> way those debates are carried on and think twice (or 3 times) about
> taking part. Certainly, even as a relative phys-l veteran, I'd rather be
> interrogated by blow-torch than make a posting to phys-l about a
> perennial topic like heat! I'm not suggesting that you cancel those
> debates in favour of political correctness, I'm just pointing out the
> impression they can make.

Margaret,

I plead guilty as charged.  I would hate for anyone to feel intimidated by
the tone of the discussions that go on on phys-l and I readily acknowledge
that some of my recent postings have not been in keeping with that idea.

On the other hand, I believe that I (and most of us on phys-l) generally
do a pretty good job of reserving my (our) wrath for those who have earned
it.  As a resident of phys-l for more than a decade, my record is well
established.  To be sure, it contains embarrassing moments, but by and
large I'm satisfied to let it speak for itself.

I truly believe that newcomers and perennial lurkers need not greatly fear
that they will be brutalized for venturing to post contributions in good
faith.  In that event I am confident that many of us would leap to their
defense.

John Mallinckrodt      mailto:ajm@csupomona.edu
Cal Poly Pomona          http://www.csupomona.edu/~ajm