Theos-Talk Archives (February 2004 Message tt00202)

Paul:



I went to the webpage for the list and it still exists.



http://list.vnet.net/?enter=act-l



When I try to sign up for it with a new email id, it lets me. I did not
receive any welcome email message nor see any description of the list. I
will leave the file online for a few days for anyone to pick up a sample
copy, then I'll delete it.



I consider the collection of messages as a historic document offering a view
into the dynamics of theosophical politics and telling the story of one
group of theosophical students attempting to deal with their T.S. 



Considering the postings as an historic document, how should someone edit
it? Should an editor purge inane comments, critical remarks, and
philosophical discussions unrelated to the ACT, or should everything be
permanently deleted? Say 50 years from now, what would a historian want us
to do? Say you came across a file of letters and booklets from a group of
active Theosophists in the 1950's. Perhaps they were a rival faction to the
group in power in their organization. Would you keep everything as you found
it, edit it, or burn the whole lot? (I know what Chuck would say he would
do.)



There have been too many groups operating behind a shroud of secrecy,
without openness and communication of what they think and do. With the
advent of the Internet, this secrecy is breaking down. My recollection of
the ACT was that they were for openness and would send out letters to
everyone stating what they were about and wanted to do. The group was
political and focused on a particular set of individuals and a particular
election in the T.S. in America [Adyar], and when that election passed, the
group faded away. 



-- Eldon



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

From: kpauljohnson [mailto:kpauljohnson@yahoo.com] 

Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 9:55 AM

To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Theos-World Re: act-l historic discussions



Hi Eldon,



There is a gap between November 1998 and April 2000. Is that a gap 

in the original data, or something wrong in the zip file?



I am a bit concerned that you are making publicly available files of 

a group that was private; people were posting with an expectation of 

privacy, weren't they? Didn't find anything personally embarrassing 

for me on a quick scroll-through (although someone was attacking my 

books at one point) but others might be unhappy that their posts are 

available. I guess it's up to them to protest if so.



Cheers,



Paul









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