Thank you to everyone who responded to the listserv survey in the Fall 2002 issue of ASLE News. This is the full text of the responses and is meant to accompany the summary that appears in the Spring 2003 issue of ASLE News.

This survey was meant to give members an opportunity to share their perceptions about the listserv, which has been in existence for 10 years. I transcribed all the comments included on the surveys that were either emailed or mailed to me, and that transcript is available in its entirety on the ASLE website: www.asle.umn.edu. Several of you sent comments to the listserv itself. When those comments were clearly applicable to the survey, I included those comments here.

Your ASLE officers will discuss these responses at their June 2003 meeting in Boston, and any proposals put forward there will be posted to the membership through the listserv and newsletter for further discussion and refinement.

Number of responses: 30*

*Because a few members did not answer all the questions, the total number of responses per question does not always total 30.

1. How long have you been an ASLE member?

( ) 0-3 years ( ) 4-7 years ( ) 8-11 years

2. Are you subscribed to the ASLE listserv? ( ) yes ( ) no

If yes, how long have you been a subscriber?

( ) less than 1 year ( ) 1-3 years ( ) 4-7 years ( ) 8-10 years (2 ) I tend to subscribe/unsubscribe

Comments:

• "I’ve been thinking for a while of leaving the list and just scanning the posts from the archives…."
• "…I’ve been considering dropping out for a while now because the list has become often more of another chore in my life rather than a source of intellectual and professional stimulation."
• "[I had subscribed, but] I’ve deleted most messages unread, and finally dropped out altogether."

3. If you subscribe, how would you characterize your primary use of the listserv?

( ) I read posted messages regularly. 1

( ) I read subject headings and selectively read messages. 4

( ) I read posted messages regularly and occasionally post messages. 11

( ) I read and post messages regularly. 1

( ) Other. __________________________

• "I also selectively delete and like the list much less since its quality has deteriorated."
• "Read selectively, seldom post."

4. If you do not subscribe, please describe why you do not.

• "I subscribed for about one week and was disappointed with the level of exchange."
• "I have attempted to [subscribe] without success. It was moved a few years ago, and I never was able to get connected after that."
• "There are a few individuals who really dominate the listserv, who seem to control it, actually. I join, then drop, then join again–and the same individuals are always talking …."
• "I dropped because one person [name] sent half of all entries. After a 6-month hiatus, I tried again and [name] still sent half of all postings; so I dropped out again. Secondarily, I was able to receive, but never able to post; tried three times to amend this problem with no success."
• "Arguments are grand, when the participants stick to issues about which they know somewhat. Insults and jibes are a problem. I unsubscribe when the unthinking chatter takes over, with some users posting 3-4 ping-pong messages per day."
• "I still do subscribe, but am thinking of unsubscribing because the people whose ideas I respect are seldom present anymore. The list seems dominated by a conservative few."

5. What do you find of value in the current listserv?

• "Information in response to my queries. References to writers and books otherwise missed. Conversation with like-interested (not like-minded members.)"
• "It’s a wonderful resource for targeted questions."
• "Resource for bibliographies; pedagogical approaches."
• "I liked it much better in its earlier years, where there seemed to be much more substantial conversation and networking. But I continue to value it as a place where I can post a quick question and get quick responses."
• "Bibliographies, conference postings (CFPs)"
• "?"
• "Interesting discussions–both on and off-topic. Suggestions for classroom materials."
• "Can be a valuable resource for scholarship."
• "I life the exchange of ideas and information. And in the past, there was also a helpful and nourishing camaraderie. That has lessened now that the list is too "chatty" and many serious ASLE-ers have left it."
• "Posting of articles, events, cases relevant to L&E"
• "Diversity of perspectives; collegiality; wide range of topics and types of messages."
• "Resources–literature, film for teaching my courses."
• "The sharing and book and course related information and debate and discussion of texts."
• "CFPs [Calls for Papers], some discussions of course ideas, ability to ask a pointed question of many people."
• "Call for papers; resources/discussion on ecology and lit."
• "It’s good if you want to develop a bibliography on a particular topic–but substantial issues are not explored fully or consistently."
• "Debates, arguments, notice of books, events, and scholarly work. Personal accounts–mini-essays–are a risk, but the good ones raise my spirits."
• "I like the mix of personal and professional comments here, and would hate to see that change. But I do agree that we need to remember that this list, like most others, has lots of new folks who drop by for a week or two to assess the utility of the list. If, during that time, the list is nattering on about totally irrelevant subjects, then those folks drop out. … We might lose some very interesting participants that way. We are, after all, one of the more public faces of ecocriticism."
• "I teach nature literature (poetry) and advanced composition but find comments made about mountains, global warming, the extinction of ivory-billed woodpeckers, or anything having to do with nature and the environment useful to what I teach. The comments made on this list get me thinking about things I can pass on to my students, and isn’t that what we’re all about?"
• "I really cannot understand why anyone has a problem with the diversity of topics on the list. These are its life."
• *"I’ve been keeping a journal for nearly forty years now, and in it I try to record one new idea a day. Sometimes I go weeks without such an entry …. Since I’ve been on the ASLE list, I’ve found some goodies here that I would be sorry to have missed."
• "I think that the point that the main ASLE list is the most public professional face of ASLE is a very important one for us to consider. How many interested, committed people have we list–both long term members and visitors–because so many of us can’t tolerate the mailboxes full of chatter?"

6. What aspects of the current listserv would you like to see changed or modified? How would you suggest that these changes come about?

• "It ain’t broke–don’t fix it! Only if a serious request for citations and such goes unanswered is it broke."
• "I’d like to see better use of subject heads to indicate off-topic (OT) discussion, and I’d like to see more people beyond the usual suspects posting."
• "Eliminate unprofessional postings; create a separate list specifically for research/teaching?"
• "I’d like to see the listserv be more self-aware of its being a public face on the organization and the field. I also tire of some of the personal postings that go on too long. I realize that’s a subjective call!"
• "Domination by [name deleted]. Leash certain aggressive belligerent and bullyish voices. Too much anti-animal attitudinizing/posturing. I’m sick of the gun types, hunting types, meaty types dominating. I’m about to quit–they are so in-your-face & unreceptive to other perspectives!"
• "None"
• "I’d like to see the personal chit chat eliminated."
• "How about two main ASLE-lists. One more "professional" than the other, but still open to speculative conversations, perhaps in a moderated environment. Someone on the list proposed dividing four ASLE lists into eight, "professional" and "chatty." This seems unnecessary. Only the main ASLE list needs dividing into those two categories, I think."
• "Less personal exchanges as if there were only a dozen people on the list."
• "Sometimes, a few people dominate the discussion; I’m afraid this intimidates others and possibly discourages new participants from being involved in ASLE."
• "Decrease personal conversations & domination by some individuals. Limit posting to one per day? Move CFPs to a different site."
• "I especially find the `slamming’ distasteful. We should be able to express a variety of views without the hasty attacks."
• "Less `personal’ information. Fewer posts that have little or nothing to do with ASLE’s mission. I don’t know how to make the changes."
• "For my purposes there is far too much personal exchange and extended discussion of what to me are unrelated subjects (recently, guns and bears). However, I realize this serves the needs of some loyal followers."
• "More discussion about actions–especially about genuine environmental education. How to connect with those who are not inclined to listen to environmentalists."
• "I’d like to see fewer chatty, quick, ping-pong posts. A problem with listservs is that the cues in face-to-face conversation don’t operate. So the obsessives, compulsives (and/or those who keep their computer on all the time) take over. As a result, the attention span is discouragingly short. In the grip of passion, I try to limit my posts to 1 per day and 3 per week."
• "Is there any way to have a listserv just for posting announcements? serious questions? and let those who want to chat nonstop have their own free-for-all."
• "…less professionally focused conversations have discouraged many of the most active scholars in the field from participating in this list; their absence makes this a less useful professional tool for all of us. The solution? I’d say two lists: one devoted to scholarship and pedagogy, and one available for less academically focused conversations."
• "[T]here are times … when marginally relevant conversations drag on and on between the same few folks making multiple posts per day."
• Only one in twenty messages is actually useful (i.e., that I save and file the information). On the other hand, it’s been fun to hear about [recent thread]."
• "It’s fairly common for lists to include a variety of sensibilities…. I think trying to reconcile those sensibilities in one place requires too many compromises that end up pleasing no one."
• "Those of use who actually read very widely and contribute obscure books and authors in response to queries for such (which is the main professional use of the list) are not going to be around to contribute to a boring list [narrowly focused]."
• "How about a combination of the suggestions that have arisen: ONE ASLE-Chat list, a greater commitment to taking conversations off-list that aren’t likely to be of general interest, AND a voluntary limiting of posts to say, two or three a day (so as not to stifle real conversation)?

7. For what purposes do you tend to use the listserv? Please check all that apply.

( ) to query ASLE members 13

( ) to communicate ASLE-related news to ASLE members 8

( ) to find resources for scholarship 16

( ) to find resources for teaching 15

( ) to hear about latest developments in the field 14

( ) to network with like-minded others (not necessary like-minded–1)–7

( ) to engage in conversations with like-minded others 5

( ) to hear about calls for papers 14

( ) to hear about calls for action, such as congressional letter-writing campaigns, etc. 5

( ) Other:_________________________

• "Relief from the solitary practice of writing."
• "NO [calls for action]."
• "To be part of an ASLE community, but preferably one that reflects ASLE membership a little more fully. Also, one more issue is the archiving of list conversations. I think the archiving issue may be what has driven some members away."
• "I’d like to see the calls for papers condensed in some way. The multiple, forwarded posts get a bit much, but I realize that [name] is just doing the job she volunteered to do on behalf of all ASLE members. Can we figure out a different way to do this?"

8. What information would have been helpful to you as a new or returning listserv member?

( ) a welcome message describing the listserv community 9

( ) general guidelines for participation, generated by ASLE members 13

( ) reminders from the listserv manager about how to subscribe/unsubscribe or options for receiving messages 9

( ) information about the listserv archives 7

( ) Other: ___________________________________

• "For 2 years I was never able to post, and [this] problem was never corrected."
• "Connected sites: Diversity group"
• "[Send reminders] before x-mas break and summer break–always some who lose info."

9. Since its inception, the ASLE listserv has been an unmoderated list with an ASLE member volunteer managing subscriptions and member questions. While there is little (if any) interest in moderating the list, some members have periodically raised the idea of having general guidelines, generated by ASLE members, for participation.

( ) I am in favor of having member-generated, general guidelines for listserv participation. 12

( ) I am not in favor of having member-generated, general guidelines for listserv participation. 1

( ) Not sure. I would like to see drafts of such guidelines first. 3

( ) I would volunteer to help draft guidelines.3

( ) Other: _________________________________.

• "If we had two main lists, one could be moderated or at least have more guidelines."
• "I like the free-for-all. The only guideline I’d like would be to have the chatty byplay go on via personal e-mail."
• "I favor moderating."
• "I wonder if a voluntary one-post-per-day rule wouldn’t give people pause before they fired off their post. We could exempt calls-for-papers and similar professional announcements. I think this would, perhaps, help maintain the collegial, informal atmosphere while at the same time keeping a level of professionalism and not swamping us with chat we’re just not interested in. And it would be democratic."
• "If a list is moderated, even informally, the talkers get frustrated and may go away. If a list is wide open, the on-topic folks get frustrated and may go away. Better, I think, to have two related lists, and let people subscribe to one of the other or both, and make the archives available to all so there can be plenty of cross-communication between the two."
• "[T]the proliferation of lists idea plays into the impoverished hand of the specialist. I try to read widely and create opportunities to listen to folks who have different concerns than I do. This medium, and in particular this list, is a place where that happens almost every day. (After all, the archives give people the opportunity to go away but not really.)"
• "I would like to see book discussions maybe every 2 months."