Re: Syndicate: future

[honor <honor@va.com.au>]

dear friends,

what horribly unfortunate timing that this furore must happen when so many
of us are in the midst of summer holidays and travels.  i have also been
away from email for a few days, and have just come back to discover that
very good friends, close colleagues, and people who have contributed to
some of the most meaningful discourse in media cultural practice in europe
over the past few years, have left the most interesting mailing list i have
belonged to.  we should remember, as nina, eric, andreas, and inke have all
tried to point out that the syndicate was always more than a mailing list.
it was a network and a community; a group of prople who shared ideas,
created space for exchange and organised projects together.

that this list has been hijacked and now effectively railroaded by a bored
programmer with too much time on her hands is, IMHO, a terrible shame.  if
the consensus on the list is that the banal and egocentric ramblings of one
person are more important than the spirit that this list has created and
maintained over 5 and 1/2 years, then i will also try and find other spaces
to continue the  important project that the syndicate once was, and
hopefully in some other form, will be again.

i find it deeply the ironic that an entrepreneur so well known for revoking
licences to use her software (nato) when she encounters even the smallest
criticisms of her programming - effectively censoring nato users - would
react with such petulence when she herself is asked to minimise the 'noise'
of her postings.  considering the nn_construct is so intolerant of others
views on her work and ideas, i find it rather galling that so many have
tried to defend her in the name of 'free speech'.  this is something
laughably alien to the nn_construct's philosophy of doing business, and its
unfortunate that the syndicate has collapsed based on this issue.  not that
this would be of any interest to the nn_construct, who has little concern
for this discussion space, absolutely no awareness of the network which has
formed around this list for the past 5 years, and no care if her incessant
flood of posts destroys the character of this list.  this is simply one of
the many many spaces for the nn_construct to advertise her commercial
products, and to raise her profile as a practitioner.  i find it very sad
that her promotional tactics have been so effective in redirecting the
course of the list.

it seems clear from recent posts that the character of 'the new syndicate'
will be focused for some time around the nn_construct.  i have as much
interest in debating the comparatitive merits of this software
manufacturer, as i have debating the merits of the producers of photoshop.
as such, its with deep regret that i will also be signing off the list.

i wish to thank, sincerely, the extraordinary efforts of andreas and inke,
and all the others who have contributed so ably to the creation of this
community.  i can't articulate with sally or eric's eloquence just how much
this list has meant to me over the years i have been subscribed.  but i
trust that those i've met over the time i've been on the syndicate know.  i
certainly hope that we will find the time and will to create an alternative
forum to dicuss media cultural practice in europe and beyond, and to
address many of the issues which made the syndicate such a unique and
vibrant entity.

love to all friends and colleagues on the syndicate.
kia kaha.

best

honor

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