Percy-L: Literary, Religious, Scientific, and Philosophical Discussion of Walker Percy

[Henry Mills <wppdirector AT gmail.com>]

Jim, you have an excellent idea in suggesting a specific subject title line for the LITR Slow Read. Rhonda, thanks for lining up the "discussion leaders."

In terms of myself as Percy-L administrator, my general goals and service to the list are simply to promote smooth operation of the list logistically.  I customarily, thus, set aside my own political perspectives in wishing to advance a healthy, productive community process in what I hope will always remain a democratic forum. As such, as facilitator, I welcome any comments or suggestions at anytime from Percy-L members as they relate to issues facing the entire list, as mailed to percy-l-owner AT lists.ibiblio.org .  In contrast, more pointed personal disagreements between members are best handled off-line between the parties involved and should not necessarily involve me.  The civility and broad-mindedness of Walker Percy, I hope, will always be our highest model of good in our exchanges, both public and private.

With that understanding in mind of my role, I currently have three suggestions at this time to offer the group for optimal flow of LITR discussion:

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1) MESSAGE NAMING
As per Jim's comment above, perhaps a good naming convention for posts would be to follow the chapter titles of LITR being discussed each week.  For example, to start:

    LITR Slow Read - Chapter 1 - "July Fourth"

The title of discussion can then change each time a new chapter is begun.  Rhonda, you will be in the best position to start such a convention.  Karl, you could then follow suit with a change to: LITR Slow Read - Chapter 2 - "July First" when you pick up with your discussion post the following week.


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2) REPLYING TO PREVIOUS MESSAGES
For the benefit of all Percy-L members - those active in discussion or simply observing -- in replying to posted LITR topics, it may be helpful if LITR discussion members provide a beginning line in their message response indicating to whom they are replying and about what using key quotes (brevity is encouraged when it comes to quoting).


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3) DISCUSSION TO REMAIN UNMODERATED
I foresee the LITR discussion (as in general it is) will remain unmoderated according to the Percy-L "Welcome Message," which outlines that:

"The Percy-L forum is open to the discussion of all topics pertaining to the work and thought of the American novelist and philosopher Walker Percy. Students, general readers, and scholars are all welcome, as well as simply the curious. There is no standing agenda for the list except the promotion of commentary of the sort that one would expect from people with a special interest in Percy.  As such, the list will remain unmoderated unless some future reason requires it. A diverse range of critical and lay perspectives is therefore welcomed, if not encouraged, as long as the manner and method of _expression_ are responsible toward and respectful of the parties they are addressed to, as well as the interests of the larger list membership as a whole."

And further, "Needless to say, both patience and tolerance are encouraged in all matters related to the list, for electronic discussion of this sort is fraught with the potential for misunderstanding, even as it provides for new channels of discussion."

For a complete review of the Percy-L guidelines and basic user commands for the list, I invite members to visit;
http://www.ibiblio.org/wpercy/discussion/listserv/listserv.guidelines.html

Thank you again to our leaders, and let us look forward to some exciting reading discussion starting with Rhonda's introduction of topics on 6/29-6/30.  Success with LITR may mean future slow reads of other Percy's works for the list's enjoyment.

Happy reading and discussion!
Henry Mills

Percy-L Manager


On 6/28/14, 6:37 AM, Jim Forest wrote:
> I'm not able to commit to leading a section but would do my best to participate.
>
> Let's give this a new subject heading. (Slow reading of Love in the Ruins?)
> 
> Jim Forest
>