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,

I highly value the listserve, the people on it, and the discussions.  I
realize how my comments may have come off.

Sometimes the discussions get a bit too in-depth, or personally flavored
for my needs.  Guess I need to learn how to opt out of those
conversations.

Thank you for the email and thoughts.
 
--Jeff--


-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jeff Courtman
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 12:18 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Outdoor Exhibits - Off topic

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

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.

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