ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Jeff,

While I appreciate what you might think a list-serve is for, I hope  
you'll show the same courtesy to those of us with differing views.   
Having been a subscriber to this forum since the beginning, I can  
attest to the value of this online 'water-cooler' of sorts, where  
there is an opportunity to reflect, and sometimes tease, colleagues  
about fundamental topics.  You have several options as to how you  
receive information - all of which give you a way to opt out of  
conversations you don't find interesting.

Your last comment, locates you in a list of 'some,' not all, people,  
which is the correct assessment.   Although I find your logic  
impenetrable, that somehow the sort of free flowing discussion that  
sprang from a simple question isn't relevant, - aren't we all somehow  
in the business of selling exhibits, if on different levels? - do you  
mean of no practical value?  I would find this list-serve a less rich  
environment if it didn't respond to both the practical and the  
philosophical, the serious and the humorous, and even the sometimes  
flippant.

I would also suggest a careful reading of the list-serve over the  
years does indicate several areas of major agreement as to what  
comprises a good exhibit.  There seem to be, for instance, two main  
camps.  Although individual philosophies are  colored by  
experience,   I would loosely categorize them as Teachers and Stage- 
setters.  A main tenet of the Teacher camp is the notion that good  
exhibits are exhibits that teach.  The Stage-setters, myself  
included, believe good exhibits are more open ended.  Other shared  
traits, regardless of the camp, is that they are safe and easy to  
maintain.  The list goes on.....

The analogy I come back to is to think of the list-serve as a good  
library.  What interests you may be very different from someone  
else.  I may go looking for a book on how to build a backyard  
barbeque pit; you may go just to browse.  Another person may be there  
to research the literature on a particular topic.  Without materials  
that cover a broad range of topics, the library would be something less.

Finally, let me offer a suggestion offered in the spirit of  
compromise.  It came from my fiancee who is a certified geek (have to  
credit the source).  Perhaps, when we get into these discussions,  
when we do go beyond the scope of the original question, we could  
append the words "Off topic" to the original subject line.  That  
would give those of us who want to continue with the thread a means  
to do so, and would give fair warning to others that what follows may  
be of little interest.




	


On Mar 29, 2010, at 7:11 PM, Jeff Rosenblatt wrote:

> *This message was transferred with a trial version of CommuniGate 
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> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
> institutions.
> ********************************************************************** 
> *******
>
> Eric,
>
> Nobody is the conduit of all things exhibit-wise, including myself,
> since there are so many diverging philosophies of what comprises a
> "good" exhibit and since there are multiple types of venues to host
> exhibits.  This applies for any type of exhibit, be it interactive,
> passive, moving, static, multimedia, cheap, expensive, short-term,
> long-term, whatever.
>
> What I do know about exhibits, from experience, is some people will
> often voice a critical opinion about what's not right and tell you  
> what
> you should not do, instead of sharing what you can do.  I've learned
> more by ignoring those overly critical opinions and listening to  
> myself
> instead.
>
> I just do not think a shared listserve is the best place for an in- 
> depth
> conversation to take place...especially since some people on this list
> are in the business of selling exhibits.
>
> --Jeff--
>
> Jeff Rosenblatt
> Director, Science City
>
> Union Station Kansas City, Inc.
> 30 W. Pershing Rd.  Suite 850
> Kansas City, MO  64108
> Office:  816-460-2218
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Informal Science Education Network
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Eric Siegel
> Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 4:00 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Outdoor Exhibits
>
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> ********************************************************************** 
> **
> *****
>
> Why, Jeff?  I was actually enjoying this thread.
>
> E
>
>
>
> Eric Siegel
> esiegel at nyscience dot org
> projects web site at http://www.etsiegel.net
>
>
> NY Hall of Science is on:
> Twitter: http://twitter.com/nysci
> Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nysci
> YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/nyhallofscience
>
>
>
> On Mar 29, 2010, at 4:44 PM, Jeff Rosenblatt wrote:
>
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers
>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
>>
> ********************************************************************** 
> **
> *****
>>
>> Can this conversation be moved offline...
>>
>> Jeff Rosenblatt
>> Director, Science City
>>
>> Union Station Kansas City, Inc.
>> 30 W. Pershing Rd.  Suite 850
>> Kansas City, MO  64108
>> Office:  816-460-2218
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> ********************************************************************** 
> *
> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers  
> and
> the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>
> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at
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> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers  
> and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>
> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at  
> www.exhibitfiles.org.
>
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