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From: elna@netcom.com (Esperanto League N America)
Subject: Re: ESPERANTO - SPAM SPAM SPAM, SPAM SPAM SPAM
Message-ID: <elnaD4p8C5.958@netcom.com>
Organization: Esperanto League for North America, Inc.
References: <5gHLE_IGaJB@alnilam.toppoint.de> <hS35M95.padrote@delphi.com> <3io81a$2he@blackrabbit.cs.uoregon.edu> <5S9Ys98.padrote@delphi.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Feb 1995 07:19:17 GMT
Lines: 31
Sender: elna@netcom4.netcom.com

John Ayala <padrote@delphi.com> writes in a recent posting (reference <5S9Ys98.padrote@delphi.com>):
>
>      As 
>someone pointed out, the same basic arguments have been advanced since 
>1887, and few people have been impressed. Perhaps more publicity is 
>the answer. My girlfriend had a copy of _New Woman_ lying around the 
>apartment, and I was very surprised to see a short interview with 
>the director of the ELNA in the current issue. But if even the 
>majority of linguists reject Esperanto - people who should be able to
>recognize its utility more than anyone else - I doubt the readers of 
>mass circulation magazines will show any more interest.
>
About two years ago, a short (four lines) article about Esperanto
appeared in "Seventeen" magazine, which is read mostly by girls of 
that age and younger. ELNA's office was inundated by requests (almost
2,000 in a few months) and sent out a corresponding number of information
packages, which included lesson #1 of the free postal course. A few hundred
began the course, but the attrition rate was fierce! Not one of the girls
who originally found Esperanto in "Seventeen" finished the ten lessons.
I suspect that basic laziness was the chief cause of this; it doubtless
felt too much like extra homework! [Of course the naysayers will have 
different causal models.]
BTW we generally get around 40 requests per week for general info, with
blips of heightened interest whenever Esperanto is mentioned in the press.
It is *rarely* mentioned in mass circulation magazines.
We haven't yet had response from the "New Woman" article, because they
neglected to mention our phone # and address.   :-(

Miko.


