Re: topics

[amc17@cornell.edu (Adam M. Chud)]

1) Discussion on the list does not necessarily reflect a consensus or even
the opinion of the majority.  For all I know Will, Trond and I are the only
ones who like infotech.  The same may be true for Latin America.  Of all
the people who subscribe to the list and are members of CEDA, the few who
wade in on topic discussions may not reflect true opinion of this public.
I say this in response to a comment by someone the other day who said
something to the effect that "I sense a consensus developing for the Latin
America topic."  Even if that is true on this list (which I suspect it is
not), it means nothing for how the topics will actually be voted on.

2) I volunteer to conduct an informal survey on peoples' preferences of
topic areas.  I understand that the same people responding to me will not
be voting for topic areas on the actual ballot, but maybe some sort of a
more general consensus on topic preferences will emerge.  Please email me
with your first choice for the fall topic area.  I believe the five choices
are:  education, sports/recreation, Latin America, information technology,
and domestic economy.  I'll publish the results as soon as possible.
Thanx.

3) I think Trond's suggestions for improvement in my infotech topics are of
great value. I also agree with him that MANY of the reasons previously
given by both Will Baker and I for the infotech topic have been ignored.
Not the least of which is stagnation in arguments with two foreign type
topics in a row possible with a Latin America topic in the fall.  Other
issues such as recruiting new members and currency of the topic area also
favor infotech.  No need to rehash ALL our arguments at this point.

I think the process of proposing topic wordings, debating them, altering
the topics, debating the alterations, etc. is a valuable way to improve
topic wordings.  I hope this discussion will continue.  Incorporating
Trond's suggestions with my resolutions, I now submit the following
infotech resolutions for public consideration:

Resolved: that the federal government should guarantee free access to the
internet to all inhabitants of the U.S.
(slight changes from previous resolution)

Resolved: that advances in information technology help the interests of
women and minorities in the U.S.
(major changes from previous resolution)

Resolved: that the United States government should significantly increase
the regulation of information technology and/or on-line database systems.
(no changes from previous resolution)



Adam Chud
Cornell University

---

• Prev by Date: Re Tuna and evid controversy
• Next by Date: Re a rose by any other name
• Prev by thread: topics
• Next by thread: topics
• Index(es):
  • Date
  • Thread
  • Author

---

Archive created by Jonathan Stanton (jonathan@cs.jhu.edu)
Return to main CEDA-L Archive Page