[lbo-talk] law of value

[Seth Ackerman]

Doug Henwood wrote:

>Man, that's a wacky list, OPE-L! Purges, resignations, gag orders.
>
>This history belongs in the Smoking Gun or something:
>
><http://archives.econ.utah.edu/archives/ope-l/2007m11/msg00162.htm>
>___________________________________
>  
>

I have a question for anybody, but especially for Rakesh, because he's 
smart and reasonable, and because he's hung out in these precincts of 
the online left and presumably knows how things operate there.

My question, with no snark or sarcasm intended, is: Why are people who 
study Marxian economics so crazy? Why is it so hard for them to engage 
in civil discourse? Why the personal hatred, the paranoia, the purges, 
gag orders, etc? This is an honest question.

I know that flame wars or whatnot are supposed to be endemic on the 
internet. This is the only list I've ever belonged to, so I can't judge 
for myself. But these Marxians are all highly educated, academically 
oriented, articulate adults. They're not a bunch of yahoos or 
angst-filled teenagers in their parents' basement. Why the hell are they 
like this?

I can't relocate it now, but yesterday I stumbled on a Wikipedia talk 
page where Kliman was waging an edit war with his nemesis. Not sure 
exactly how Wikipedia works, but apparently there are volunteer 
arbitrators or mediators who help when there are disagreements. The 
shock and bafflement of these poor people who were dealing with the 
dispute - I mean, they were really appalled - it was tragicomic. Some 
choice quotes (from memory) included: "I think some people just don't 
*get* Wikipedia" "So apprently this is some sort of dispute on an 
interpretation of Marxism called TSSI. I can't believe this is actually 
still going on, but anyway, what needs to happen is..." At one point a 
mediator linked despairingly to an warring edit log, almost incredulous 
at its length. I clicked on it. It went on for over 500 pages! I mean, 
where do these people get the time?!  It almost made me embarrased to be 
on the left.

Seth