Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site pur-phy.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!CS-Mordred!Pucc-H:pur-phy!wayne
From: wayne@pur-phy.UUCP (Wayne K. Schroll)
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: this newsgroup
Message-ID: <1801@pur-phy.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 13-Jul-85 17:55:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: pur-phy.1801
Posted: Sat Jul 13 17:55:04 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 14-Jul-85 09:05:29 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: Purdue Univ. Physics Dept., IN
Lines: 23


     I read this newsgroup when I can't get a big enough laugh from net.jokes
or net.flame, because of the total absurdity of the majority of the articles
posted.  It appears as if most of the posters are lost in a Niven-like fantasy 
universe where one may invent physical "facts" when knowledge falls short. 

     We have people insisting on the existence of the ether, varying the speed
of light, saying that quantum mechanics is still much in debate, arguing about
what mass is, posing self-contradictory relativity questions, this list is 
almost endless. We have such great statements as "radio is like light but
slowed down" and "gravity is grainy" (paraphrased). Where do people get this
crap?

     I propose two solutions to this problem :

  1) Abolish net.physics and create two new groups. Net.physics.true and
     net.physics.make-believe where articles would be posted to the approp-
     riate group.

  2) Before you submit an article, READ ABOUT THE SUBJECT IN A PHYSICS BOOK.
     This will serve a two-fold purpose. It will reduce the idiocy in this
     group and the poster will run a far smaller chance of making a fool out
     of his/her self.