Historical The Quest List Post 65

From: Scott
Subject: [The Quest List] Re: SKH on little interaction from members
Date: 2000-01-13 00:04:00

At 23:26 00/01/12 -0500, you wrote:
> > ...traffic has been so low on the list that I'm sure
> > many people forgot that it even existed.
>
>I find it interesting that the list produces so little interchange, while I
>had to withdraw from "other" lists because the daily e-mail traffic, even in
>digest form, was just too much to deal with.
>
>What is the difference?
>
>First of all, I feel that people attracted to our Quest Center approach are
>results-oriented "doer" types. We are so busy training and "doing" that we
>do not seem to have much time for long well-thought discourses from the
>keyboard. I know this to be true because I have asked several of my friends
>about this directly.
>"Don't you have anything to say?"
>"Yes," they reply, "but I just don't have the time to get involved in
>proving anything over the internet."


Actually, supposedly a lot of people who were active on all the lists are
apparently active on E-budo--I'm not because it's web based and therefore a
bit of a nuisance, plus it's open to all, apparently, becoming a magnet for
the kogas etc.

Perhaps it's simply that the novelty of the internet has begun to wear off,
and martial artists, like everyone else, have gotten back into their
training and other aspects of their life. Hayes sensei is certainly
correct that there used to be an incessant amount of traffic, however, it
seems to have ceased on all of the Buj related mailing lists.


>I had to prove that I was the "real deal". Today, anybody with a modem, an
>ax to grind, and too much time on his/her hands can become an "instant
>authority" thanks to the internet.

With all due respect, I have to argue this point. The above is true in a
way, and the bad side of the internet. The other side of the coin, however
is that the internet has allowed many of us to learn far more than we could
have otherwise--therefore, the "instant authorities" are usually rather
closely scrutinized, and don't last long. It keeps most of them modest. :)



>well. However, if you have only a few students - even though you claim to be
>teaching the "pure art" that other teachers' students "ought to study" - you
>may have an ego worry that needs to prove yourself "right" in spite of how
>little interest there is in what you are teaching. Internet lists then are a
>great vehicle for promoting little fish into imitation big sharks.


LOL---ah, I can think of several who this could apply to. Of course, many
of them wind up leaving for supposedly greener pastures, or to start their
own thing. Ah well, 'tis human nature.







> And - truth be
>told - a BBS or "list" without spite and controversy is like the Enquirer
>without scandal - it does not seem to draw much attention.


Once again, I have to, with respect disagree. I don't know why I'm
defending the internet tonight :) Probably warming up for an argument
with my wife. Several of the buj related lists, yes. Too many people who
like to argue for arguments sake. On the other hand, a couple of the
computer related lists that I belong to have far more traffic than the
martial arts ones, and manage to avoid controversy.

Scott, defender of the internet :)
(whose taijutsu is terrible, of course. )

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