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From: chabot@amber.DEC (L S Chabot)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: mod.all and net.fascism-bushwah!
Message-ID: <4040@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 29-Oct-84 11:14:22 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.4040
Posted: Mon Oct 29 11:14:22 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 30-Oct-84 19:39:03 EST
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jj  ==  >
> ...antagonistic flamers (see net.singles, net.politics, net.motss ,
> and net.women for examples) have DELIBERATELY and with MALICE aforethought
> driven all serious discussion away by question the subject matter in a way
> calculated to cause insult and hurt, without regard for either the purpose of
> the newsgroup or the individuals who could benefit from the same. 
> Those of you who wish to play in what has become a septic tank are welcome to
> stay there, however, if you wish to continue to contribute to those who care
> most about the subject matter, I think you may have to bow to the mod.
> newsgroups, and modify your postings to be appropriate for adult discussion. 

Um, gee, er, not *all* worthwhile discussion has been chased away from
net.singles and net.women.  There are a few diehards who persist in contributing
things of interest, and there are always new folk who haven't heard about
mod.xx (not mod.ai :-) ) or any relevant mailing lists, so net.xx may be their
first choice of a place to look or post.  Also, some of us are (as yet) unable
to receive mod.xx.  I will continue to contribute to net.whatever newsgroups,
because I still think that there are many who care about the subject matter
who still read those newsgroups.

Tilting at idiots has its advantages: it can sharpen the wit, it reminds one of
all the little stupid people out in the world (reality check! reality check!),
it's a cheap thrill.  [And think of the exercise of snobbery, and the sadism
in ignoring particularly idiotic or foul postings until the offender goes
completely rabid and commits even greater foolishnish!]  But it is tedious, and
it does seem pointless to argue the same issues of enlightened behavior, and
there seems to be no way in the world to have to look at fresh occurrences of
married-devout folk criticizing the "singles lifestyle", or those who've 
decided they need to convince all women of the correctness of their view on
abortion (no, it's not enough that there exists a newsgroup just for this 
topicm, apparently).

> The most offensive part of the paranoid ravings about "net.fascism" is that no
> one is being denied a forum for their notes. 

Yes.  But I've also considered it to be a sign of stupidity, undergraduate
behavior, or maybe just mental instability (paranoia).  Anybody else remember
who got called a fascist by whom in net.women when the recurring abortion
squabbles triggered the pre-planned creation of net.abortion? 

Yours in bore-hood,
L S Chabot
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