Re: Purpose of the List

["Janet Westbrook" <janet.westbrook@home.com>]

Mike --



Wise words, as usual. I am glad that you are the list moderator.



                                                                Janet

Westbrook



----- Original Message -----

From: "Michael Stabin" <michael.g.stabin@vanderbilt.edu>

To: "Radsafe" <radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>

Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 9:01 AM

Subject: Re: Purpose of the List





>

> First, let's check our definitions...from your welcome message:

>

> "The Radiation Safety Distribution list is an electronic mailing list for

> Health Physicists, Medical Physicists, Radiological

> Engineers and others who have a professional interest in matters related

to

> Radiation Protection."

>

> Then the first list guideline:

>

> "Please keep in mind that RADSAFE is for the discussion of issues related

to

> radiation protection.  Messages which do not add substantive content to

the

> discussion are not appreciated. Flames, coarse language, and negative

> personal comments about members of the list or others are unprofessional

and

> never appropriate."

>

> The list serves both to help people seek professional resources and have

> professional discussions of techical matters, as well as to "discuss

> issues". ANY issue related to radiation protection is fair game in my

> thinking, and ANY opinion, pro-, con-, or in between is welcome, as long

as

> the topic remains radiation protection and a courteous tone is maintained.

I

> try to be a light-handed moderator and let discussions meander off topic

at

> times, as long as this does not run on too long.

>

> Specifically, as related to this discussion, I will respectfully disagree

> with my good friend Steve and say that posting of information from "news

> sources", even if they are biased (I don't know of many that aren't), if

> they relate to radiation protection are acceptable. The l-o-o-o-o-ng

> discussion that has been going on since day one of this list, on low level

> dose and effects, is clearly of interest to many and certainly on-topic. I

> feel that Radsafe is great for "Does anyone know where I can find..."

> postings as well as for these more philosophical discussions. Some of the

> latter (my own posts included) get long winded sometimes, and if they

don't

> interest you, you may use your delete key with gusto. I don't see the need

> to break up the list into "practical" and "philosophical", or some other

> artificial distinction, and I don't want a "closed" list in which we

cannot

> hear and discuss diverse opinions that relate to this subject matter. If a

> piece of information is biased or erroneous, ignore it or criticize it,

> that's part of the discussion, just keep it respectful of all parties

> involved. I find that my thinking improves MORE when I listen to views

that

> are different from my own than when I just hang around with folks who

agree

> with me on most things.

>

> So, that's the position of your moderator. Speaking just as a participant,

I

> think the list is basically quite healthy in its current form and

certainly

> serves a useful purpose. I may have related the great success I had once

> from Brasil in seeking resources for an investigator there, who was

> astounded at the volume of great technical information they received in a

> half-day's time from one Radsafe post, when they had previously been

> frustrated in library searches. My thinking has been sharpened by

listening

> to all the debate on LNT, and I am appreciative of that input. OK,

speaking

> of long winded posts.....I need to shut up and get back to work!

>

>

> Mike

>

> Michael G. Stabin, PhD, CHP

> Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences

> Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences

> Vanderbilt University

> 1161 21st Avenue South

> Nashville, TN 37232-2675

> Phone (615) 322-3190

> Fax   (615) 322-3764

> e-mail  michael.g.stabin@vanderbilt.edu

>

>

>

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