Johnny Ramone is dying of cancer.

I posted a deliberately inflammatory post to the slam list a day or so ago, implying that the lack of chatter there was a sign of decay and dissension in the national slam community.

chazellik, lowhumcrush, and Bucky Sinister chimed in with points of view on the subject, including the belief that LiveJournal has taken the list serv’s place to some extent (I thoroughly agree). Charles also provided some thoughtful commentary about the importance of the old rough and tumble days of flames and arguments to forging the national community — and I agree with that too.

Interestingly enough, I received a couple of backchannel comments from the infamous bowerbird, who (no surprise) never really left the list he was banned from. This isn’t the first time he’s hit me up like that about comments on the list, so I expected that.

It struck me (as it did back then) that the banning of bowerbird was a mistake, as it took away a lot of the energy flashpoints from the list. Say what you want about him and his frequently unworkable ideas – he provided the catalyst for alot of discussions.

Now, all we get there is announcements and the occasional flurry of indignation.

The slam family is dead. Long live the slam.