More about FAQ

[Mattias Hallin]

BROR HELLMAN:

             Maybe I ought to explain why I replied to your sarcastic message
about FAQs in a similar sarcastic vein -- I just didn't like your sarcastic
attitude in the first place! Sure, to us-in-the-know it might SEEM stupid or
something not to know who Carl Barks or Floyd Gottfredson is/was; or not to
know that WDC is our common abbreviation for "Walt Disney's Comics and Stories"
and so on and so on. Sure. But who said that prior expertise should be required
qualification in order to join this list? There's nothing whatsoever wrong with
lack of knowledge, as long as one is willing to learn -- and how the $%/& are
you supposed to learn unless you're allowed to ask those questions that answers
your particular need of knowing -- whether or not the answers seem selfevident
and obvious to those who has that knowledge already.

Now, it sure ain't none of my business, and I don't wear no stinkin' badge or
nuthin'; but I DO think that it's downright wrong to poke fun at those of our
lurkers, or future listjoiners who might not know very much about e.g. disney 
comics, and therefore also might feel that they have no right to voice their 
opinions or questions on the list. Which of course is exactly what they DO
have! I've seen it happen several times while I've been on the list that people
have been scared off it, just because we keep our discussions at a high level.

AND, may I add, I DO NOT mean to say we should lower the standards or level of
discussion -- nosireebob! -- but we SHOULD always welcome anyone to
participate, no matter what level that person'd be able to enter the discussion
on. I'm well aware that fandom often enough IS a mmeritocratic society, and
maybe that's alright; but lets not stoop to snobbery and elitism, shall we?

AND this is exactly why a FAQ-file would be an excellent thing to have -- it
means there'll be a place to find those basic answers you as new to the subject
might need in order to dare come out of the broom-closet, as it may be, and
help make this list even better and more diversified. I honestly admire those
who has the guts to admit their ignorance of this or that, and ask for what
they want/need to know -- and ain't none of us got any business ridiculing them
for that! Sure! I agree we must all be allowed to say what we think of any 
subject, including that which we don't like. But I also think we should try to
keep that kinda critique in the open and to the point. If you think that
someone is an idiot -- say so, but don't hide it as an in-joke between "us REAL
disney-comics-fans" or whatever.

Sorry 'bout the sermon -- but I got a bit mad, don't you know; no hard feelings
I hope!

All my best!

Mattias

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!* Mattias Hallin ** <Mattias.Hallin at Jurenh.lu.se> ** Phone: +46 46-14 84 43 **!
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