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Issue 6, February 2002
Guest editorial
"What matter, who speaks?"
This question, posed by Samuel Beckett, has been asked in a number of ways over the centuries. Michel Foucault took it as a provocation for his essay "What is an author?" to ask (among other things): Who is excluded or included in discussions? This question circulates mostly inherently, but sometimes explicitly, in a journal such as this one.
First of all, we need a place where things can be spoken, if that metaphor can be allowed to describe the written word. The Electronic Journal of Gambling Issues: eGambling (EJGI) is committed to being such a place. We peer-review articles on research, policy and clinical practice. This is particularly important in disseminating science-based information, but we extend this principle to whatever we publish. The problem of refereeing submissions becomes harder when you want to include not just the voices of researchers and clinicians, but also gamblers, problem gamblers, clients, family members, policy advocates, people from the gaming industry and community members.
EJGI's goal is to facilitate an ongoing open, respectful and informed dialogue on gambling issues. Not only do we risk controversy and debate by setting this as our course, we welcome it. Warned by Foucault, we do not want to eliminate the voices of those who are not academics or professional counsellors. Our answer to Beckett's question is that it does matter who speaks, that a forum needs to be open for it to take root and that it needs to blossom in ways that are inclusive, diverse, relevant and dialogical.
All of this is for naught, however, if it lacks a critically engaged reader. The only way that our efforts reach any form of completion is when the reader becomes an active participant in the process — the necessary link that completes the loop that every conversation requires. Please finger through the current issue and the growing Archive section (link at the bottom of the sidebar) so that your voice can find its place, here and elsewhere, to participate in and contribute to the ideas, knowledge and information that inform theory, policy and practices in the republic of gambling issues.
Wayne Skinner
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
[The opinions expressed here are the author's and not necessarily those of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.]
A note to our readers:
If you have not yet completed our Readership Survey, please scroll down and tell us what you think of the EJGI. —ed.
Readership Survey
We want to publish an e-journal that continues to examine the gambling issues that are of interest to you, our readers. So we are asking you what you like, what you dislike and what changes you would like to see in the Electronic Journal of Gambling Issues: eGambling (EJGI). One part of giving you, our readers, what you want is knowing who reads the EJGI. So we are also asking you about your specific interests in gambling, your year of birth and your gender. We would appreciate if you answer all of the questions so that we have a better picture of who you are and what you are looking for in our e-journal.
Confidentiality
Your responses are completely anonymous. Our Webmaster has designed this survey so that no information other than what you enter is captured. (Please note that e-mail responses to the editor from other sections of the EJGI are not similarly anonymised — they carry your e-mail address.) You may also print out and mail your responses.
The Questions
Click here to open the survey form.
If you prefer to print out and mail this survey, please click here for a PDF version of the survey. (96KB download)
Phil Lange, Editor
E-mail: Phil_Lange@camh.net
