Letter from the Interim Editor

Rob Kling’s editorship of The Information Society (TIS) from 1995 to his sudden passing on May 15, 2003 was a unique moment in the life of TIS or for that matter any research journal. He operated above paradigms and methodologies, and his editorial instincts were receptive to research from all traditions. Our tendency is to ease into intellectual cubbyholes where fellow researchers conveniently use the same vocabulary, employ familiar methodologies, and see the world in similar ways. There is a certain comfort in parochialism. Rob, on the other hand, generated a creative tension by juxtaposing papers drawn from disparate research traditions on the pages of TIS. The synapses these juxtapositions fired opened our minds to surprising connections across research traditions. We were prompted to think beyond the confines of our own cubbyholes. His broad and ever expanding interests, startling depth of mind, and refreshing openness to ideas of all hues will be greatly missed. We cannot recreate Rob. But we have his legacy. It will be unfortunate if after Rob’s passing we let 1995–2003 recede into history as the proverbial “golden age,” a passing moment in history. We need to keep his legacy alive. There is no simple answer for how this can be done. Yet, we know that every time we work against our parochial tendencies we tug with Rob and prolong the precious moment of openness he generated for us.