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As Valdis seems to be a bit alone, I want to support his position briefly.
Fishing expeditions, on the order of I don't know anything (and I don't
want to bother learning) are not useful ways of eliciting information.

They usually take the form of "Please tell me everything you know about X
[broadly-defined]".

Much more useful is reading up on X, and then sending a message saying
"Given what we know about X [with details], could you help me understand X
to Y."

Abusive responses to this email will not be answered.
Love to all, and Happy Thanksgiving to the Americans,
 Barry
 _____________________________________________________________________

  Barry Wellman         Professor of Sociology        NetLab Director
  wellman at chass.utoronto.ca  http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~wellman

  Centre for Urban & Community Studies          University of Toronto
  455 Spadina Avenue    Toronto Canada M5S 2G8    fax:+1-416-978-7162
             To network is to live; to live is to network
 _____________________________________________________________________

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