After a series of RHIZOME RAW posts reflecting on the tone of the list,
finally prompting Beth Carey (bcarey@interport.net) to ask "where are
the FUN art lists?", Robbin Murphy posted the following reply:

The East Village gallery scene started with the FUN Gallery in the early
'eighties and the work of Keith Haring et al was welcomed as an antidote
to the rather glum mood the New York Art World ™ was in through the
'seventies. But, this being New York, having fun soon became a job and
so very not fun at all. In fact, I now equate fun with the sinister
machinations of a Disney Corp, professional party planners, Barbie and
Yoyodyne, Inc. The demand for fun is sort of creepy to me but, then
again, paranoia can be fun. I've been hearing more demands for fun art
lately and I take that to mean there is a need for better accessibility
in art, that it is elitist.

Fun is ephemeral, it erupts out of nowhere because someone is bored (as
Beth Carey points out). The 7-11 listserv is fun. jodi.org is fun.
Fluxus was fun but became an institution concerned with it's own
history.

I would suggest that we use RHIZOME to alert people through the posting
of links. Short, brilliant bursts of creativity that fizzle out but
cause a shift in the network. Stupid pet tricks and mean parodies. We
need a floating party.

I'm not sure I want RHIZOME itself to be fun. I see it more as the bus
ride to Jones Beach (a favorite fun spot for those of us in New York).

carmin also commented on the nature of the RHIZOME list:

I often wonder why we don't use this forum to make art as well as to
communicate. But I thought it was just meant as a communication/
discussion forum. So we follow the implied rules to keep the intent of
the list going. But why? Can't RHIZOME RAW be whatever it becomes? Do
I smell vibrations of change?

Just do it. Make art here now.
blend characters and multiple stories
weave fact & fiction, real announcements, commentary and episodes
garbage and greatwork

honoria added:

I've observed that some lists get more fun over time, others get mean,
or intimate.

This one seems to maintain a neutral emotional state which is one reason
I stay.

The opera-L list, for example, was, when I left it, intensely
confrontational and grumpy, although it was fun to get lots of opera
gossip. I thought the Fluxus list would be fun and who knows maybe some
day it will be. Maybe someone could start the fun art list and see who
shows up.

Is there a performance art list?