The concept of play is key in looking at hypertext. But the meaning falls outside the conventional understanding of the term "play." Pedagogical play is not goofing off. However, no matter how many times I tell this to myself, when I am working in html or in Story Space, I get the feeling I am playing and at any minute will be told to stop and get to WORK. Play does not (necessarily) mean play as in Monopoly, where the icons only have "pretend" value outside the game.

Play means using concepts outside the standard canon and indulging in imagination as valuable teaching and learning exercises.However, no matter how many times I tell this to myself, when I am working in html or in Story Space, I get the feeling I am playing and at any minute will be told to stop and get to WORK.

This is an issue with the listserv: Having it as part of a class seems to be a reversal of the usual concepts of work and play. Sending e-mail to friends, entering MUDs and MOOs, these have strong elements of play. Likewise, participating in a listserv discussion can have elements of play. But that changes when the "arborific" concept of being required to do something at the request of THE PROFESSOR clashes with the inherently rhizomatic function of hypertext and the Internet.

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