I have been accused, from time to time, of being a mixer. My husband likes to remind me of the time that I posted a perfectly innocent question–about the pros and cons of circumcision–to a parenting listserv. Before long, the pro- and anti- camps were hurling accusations of genital mutilation and cultural imperialism at each other. Let’s just say it was an eye-opener.
Another question of mine, this one about what “post-avant” really means, had a similar match-meets-powder-keg effect not long ago. You can read the question here (scroll to the bottom) on the Chronicle’s Footnoted blog, the answer here (“Who You Callin’ Post Avant?”), and reaction here. As one commenter wrote, “Damn, y’all. It’s like Knots Landing in here. Somebody, call Wallace Stevens!”
