Date: Wed, 23 Oct 1996 21:49:27 -0500

From: Natalie Maynor maynor[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]RA.MSSTATE.EDU

Subject: Re: Archiving Question - Reply/Answer/Response/Rejoinder/Riposte



I have checked this web site, rummaged around in it a bit. It seems totally

legitimate and a valuable addition to search engines for the Internet. I would



I agree that it's probably a valuable addition to the net.



think that a true scholar would applaud an effort that makes information more

readily available. I simply cannot understand why one would _assume_ that

ADS-L members should *not* associate themselves with the dissemination of

their knowledge and information or why "No!" would be a proper response.



For the same reasons that we decided not to announce the existence of

ADS-L except to ADS members when the list was first started. Since then

its existence has shown up in various indexes without ill effect, of

course. And my guess is that these days the risks are smaller of having

a list like ADS-L turn into a babble-fest than they were back when there

were fewer lists around. But I still am guessing that most ADSers will

prefer not to publicize the list unnecessarily.



Is it possible that the academics on this erudite list, who disdain lowly

outsiders who are not paid acolytes of the language biz, would be embarrassed

by endless debate on the soda vs. pop issue or where barefoot-and-pregnant

originated?



Embarrassed? I don't think so. Maybe bored -- if you do mean "endless

debate" on these topics.

--Natalie (maynor[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ra.msstate.edu)