Klarinet Archive - Posting 000894.txt from 2002/11

From: Jeremy A Schiffer <schiffer@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] Poulenc Sextet for Winds and Piano
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2002 00:02:02 -0500

On Tue, 19 Nov 2002, Robert wrote:

> Whether they get information from us that leads them to source
> material or if it just helps to cement together what they have found on
> their own, I find it a terrible, terrible waste for people to respond with
> more fervor and openness to the "ethics" of asking the question than to
> provide the requested information.
<snip>
> What a shame to those on this list with experience and knowledge to hide it
> and bind it up and refuse to share with people seeking. There is nothing
> wrong with turning to professionals and those more experienced than oneself
> to gain information and insight.
<snip>
> I say, forget arguing about the ethics of asking and just answer the
> question or be quiet.

Robert,

I believe much of it has to do with the way the questions are asked. If
you've read the list for a while, you'd know that most of the people here
are more than willing to share their knowledge on just about any subject.

However, there is a big difference between these two requests:

"Hi, in the course of my research, I have been unable to find any
information on why Franklin Smith dedicated his Duet for Flute and Tuba to
Jesus Herbert Walker Kennedy. Would anyone here happen to know anything
about this, or know where I might be to find this information? Thanks."

"Hi, why did Franklin Smith dedicate his Duet for Flute and Tuba to
Jesus Herbert Walker Kennedy? I need this information for a paper.
Thanks."

I think many people here, especially those who are educators, could fill
many screens with tales of how the students of today, quite often, have
not been taught how to learn (learning how to learn, and the actual
learning of facts, are very different things, but that's a discussion
more suited to an educational philosophy listserv). People expect their
hands to be held the entire way, and not to have to put forth any real
effort to provide acceptable results. If you've shown that you have made
some effort, and that you aren't just trying to weasel out of doing your
homework, you will get a much better answer than if it looks like you're
just being lazy and want other people to do your research for you.

I spent a lot of time on Usenet in the back when it was useful, and it was
amazing how many times you'd read things that were obviously assignment
sheets that had been re-typed and posted as questions. I think a lot of
the other people on this list have seen similar things, and don't want to
help someone cheat (or, at least, cheat them of the opportunity to learn),
so they make sure that a person has made some effort to do their own work
before providing further guidance. In my opinion, this is a very good way
of handling the situation, because it (hopefully) teaches people to be
self-reliant, at last to some degree.

This is, of course, a separate issue from proper citation technique, but I
don't think I have to tell you that. That both issues are being discussed
simultaneously on the list does not necessarily mean one is privileged
over another, even if the volume of traffic makes it appear that way.
Perhaps most of us just don't know anything about the Poulenc Sextet...

-jeremy

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Jeremy A. Schiffer
AcIS Security Administrator
Columbia University
212-854-2903
AcIS Nextel *75

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