Not sure how to approach this as I am NOT a computer geek.
I have been subscribed to the SSF e-mail list for around 7 or 8 months and have sat at a computer screen and read all the forthcoming and going messages, debates, opinions and disagreements.
I have also, perhaps somewhat surprisingly to some it may appear, been an ACTIVE participant,....attending and inputting to the Sheffield Social Forum launch, attending 1 or 2 meetings, attending the first meeting of the writers workshop thing AND, reading every e-mail on the list for 7 or 8 months. I have added comments and opinons too, which,sadly, in the name of progress and development, have been miscontrued and/or mis-interpreted by the very people who are also ACTIVE in being part of, forming, the Sheffield Social Forum!
If the SSF is about "doing stuff" then fine, I am happy to support and contribute thoughts towards that, as and when.
If it is also about "social inclusion" then, I am very sorry to say, that it fails miserably, frequently.
Kevin points out that no-one leads,or necessarily controls, but I point out that some people(Bens,smokins,Dans maybe,etc)appear to have this mentality that all Social Forum members are equal - but some social forum members are more equal than others. NOT so.
The debate ("about Jews and Zionism?") between Ms Quint and Amparro might seem to some, quite unrelated to working mens clubs and lantern parades through Sharrow, but, for those who have the time or inclination to read the postings, can, at least, be informative, if somewhat slightly off-centre, whatever centre is defined as in Sheffield Social Forum.
So what?
So what for me is to say, OK people, you HAVE, at least,  made a start on this, but are you SURE that the definition of Sheffield Social Forum is the right one, the correct one for the people, the inhabitants, contributants of Sheffield, to Sheffield? Maybe, just maybe, this is perhaps what Ben L was on about in his recent posting?
But hey, seriously, thanks to the SSG geeks for setting up the computer/aktivix lists, etc, even if it takes non-technophobes like me another year or two...or three... to begin to get the hang of them.
Regards to all.......and sundried.
Smiley Steve.

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