This group initially started as a means of clarifying literature/
grammar/language/usage type of questions, within a small group of
people. In the beginning I didn't envisage more than half-a-dozen (a
dozen tops) persons in the group. But going through my phone list, I
included about twenty people. Now the membership is around sixty, with
perhaps half of them posting occasionally, and perhaps a twenty posting
somewhat regularly. The quality of the discussions has been quite good,
and the tone, apart from an isolated incident, quite polite. There has
not been a desire to "advertise" this group and increase its membership.
Nor has there been an effort to keep it a secret and dissuade newcomers.
In fact, any one who came to know of the group, and wanted to join, can
do so, without the intervention of the "Group Owners". Quite a few have
done so. And a few have opted not to do so.
It would be a variety of "swOtkarsha" if this group single-handedly
claims to have debilitated SCIT. I think that process started couple of
years ago with abusive, offensive, obscene, and vulgar posts by
anonymous posters, and possibly one or two posters who acknowledged
themselves. After Dr. K. V. Rao instituted some guidelines, it improved
to an extent. The vulgarity abated, but the rudeness didn't quite
disappear.
A defense for rudeness was quite often voiced. It is a resort to
"freedom of speech", and the excuse - "what is rude to you may not be
to me". I would characterize that as a "cop-out", "insensitive
attitude", and being "irresponsible". However, the "rules of
engagement" on SCIT (there being none) allow, if not actively encourage
that behaviour. Thanks to Dr. K. V. Rao, it is not allowed, it is
"frowned upon", but "tolerated" in Telugu Digest Which is orders of
magnitude improvement if you consider how it used to be before the
"guidelines" were imposed. Some of the members here are aware of all
this, and the discussions in SCIT urging moderation, toleration,
politeness, and decency.
Discussing controversial topics, such as SrISrI's place in Telugu
Literature (should it be smaller or bigger?), the bad-rap on chandO-
cuffed poetry, whether archaic characters such as "ara-sunna", "banDi-
ra", the first two anunAsika letters, the "ca" in "cakkani", "jA" in
"jAji" - should be discarded as excess baggage (when more storage space
is available nowadays),...the kind that suit this group, can, should,
and is being carried on, without unnecessary name-calling (no, make
that just name-calling, whether necessary or other-wise, - come to
think of it, why should it be necessary?) and character-insinuation,
whether of the literary figure, or of the poster. No one here should
claim to be infallible (even if they "think" they are!). One should
express a willingness not only to teach and preach, but also to learn,
and at the minimum, to agree to disagree, and leave the matter at that.
The Trumanesque recipe, that if you can't stand the heat, get out of the
kitchen, doesn't quite apply here. What works is when you lower the
general temperature in the room.
Why not behave when in an electronic forum, just as you would, when you
are in somebody's drawing room at a party? I would venture to say that
in such a situation, people don't say the kind of things, in the manner
they do, on SCIT. The color of the language varies when a few college
men are talking, when ladies are present, when a couple of Professors
are in the group, when strangers are present, when your parents are
present, and so on. Aren't we voluntarily imposing "censorship" on our
way of expression? What's wrong with that here? Why did "censorship",
(which I am using as a rough equivalent for "sabhyata") become a dirty
word?
There are people who actively relish a flame-war. I have seen tag-lines
which say all flames will be directed to the trash can, and some who
say flames are welcome. Possibly to ensure them, they fire an opening
salvo themselves.
Obviously they do enjoy and engage in this give-and-take. There are
some (adiyan included) who abhor this, who may be considered to have a
"thin-skin", and would rather leave the company than stoop to that
level.
Coming back to a point mentioned by Jampala, I have been thinking of
communicating with Dr. K. V. Rao about the possibility/advisability of
including the proceedings of this group in the Telugu Digest. But then,
wouldn't it open the flood-gates? For this group to be inundated with
unwanted "smart" posts from all others? I am quite scittish about that.
Is there an alternate solution?
I am sure there would be a lot of discussion on this.
Ramakrishna