Hey Abi, I support Tom's comment. Please don't be discouraged from asking questions. As a fellow grad student I've found lots of support from people on this list. But sometimes typing text can sound harsher than we mean it to be. paul teusner -----Original Message----- From: air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org [mailto:air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Thomas Nicolai Sent: Monday, 11 December 2006 11:41 To: air-l@listserv.aoir.org Subject: Re: [Air-l] writing effective questions to lists Abi! In fact you can never be doing it the right way. Mailing lists are sometimes like search engines: "[...] the User needs to know what he wants to search for" Probably you will struggle on the first "Try to find an answer...." thingy! So if you don't know how and what to ask for you need a starting point and that's always hard if you're a newbie to an issue as you can't ask more specific. So ever heard about the term "mutability"? No, go and ask someone on a medical mailing list. They will probably start the same discussion. I know how hard it is to be on research for your own without "intensive" help from your advisors so keep posting, abi! -Tom PhD Student Developer ScientificCommons.org -----Original Message----- From: air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org [mailto:air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Abigail Groves Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 12:44 AM To: air-l@listserv.aoir.org Subject: Re: [Air-l] writing effective questions to lists Hi all, I have been a member of this list for several years and as an unpublished graduate student, have lacked the confidence to contribute to discussion. This was, in fact, the first time I have posted. Being informed that my post was a 'good example of how not to ask questions' on a discussion list (!?!) is not likely to encourage my further participation. Thanks to those who responded to my query, which was deliberately broad. Your suggestions have provided a useful reading list for my as-yet-unformed research into this subject. Abi Quoting Barry Wellman <wellman@chass.utoronto.ca>:
I'm gearing up to write a book on writing for the social scientists.
I want to put in something about how to write in listservs, chat groups, IM, etc.
I was struck this week by Abigail's Q (see below) which I thought was a good example on how NOT to answer a question, because it was so broadly framed: what is it about time that Abigail is interested in? (dissertation advising manta).
Yet, I have been struck by how much interesting discussion Abigail's Q has evoked. For one thing, there ain't much on time (altho did anyone mention Evitar Zeruvabel?), so anything might be worthwhile. Second, the broadness of the Q seems to have served as a projective test -- evoking a variety of responses.
So, I am lead to wonder and to ask: what tips do people have for posting to lists?
My quick guide is:
1. Be specific as to content and need.
2. Lurk on the list for a while to get a sense of its style.
3. Try to post something else first, so that you are contributing as well as asking for information.
PS: I'd like to endorse Frank Thomas' request for evidence on Virillo's conjectures.
Barry Wellman
____________________________________________________________ _________
Barry Wellman S.D. Clark Professor of Sociology
NetLab Director
Centre for Urban & Community Studies University of Toronto 455 Spadina Avenue Toronto Canada M5S 2G8 fax:+1-416-978-7162 wellman at chass.utoronto.ca http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~wellman for fun: http://chass.utoronto.ca/oldnew/cybertimes.php
____________________________________________________________ _________
On 12/7/06, Abigail Groves wrote:
Hi all, I am writing about the internet and its effects on
time. I was
wondering
if anyone could suggest some readings on this topic?
Thanks,
Abigail Groves
PhD Candidate National Centre in HIV Social Research University of NSW http://nchsr.unsw.edu.au
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-- Abigail Groves phd candidate National Centre in HIV Social Research UNSW Sydney 2052 _______________________________________________ The air-l@listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org Join the Association of Internet Researchers: http://www.aoir.org/ -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.15.15/581 - Release Date: 09.12.2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.15.15/581 - Release Date: 09.12.2006 _______________________________________________ The air-l@listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org Join the Association of Internet Researchers: http://www.aoir.org/