[Air-l] writing effective questions to lists

[Paul Teusner]

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 at listserv.aoir.org
[mailto:air-l-bounces at listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Thomas Nicolai
Sent: Monday, 11 December 2006 11:41
To: air-l at 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 at listserv.aoir.org
[mailto:air-l-bounces at listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of
Abigail Groves
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 12:44 AM
To: air-l at 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an unpublished 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 at 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
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