Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!wuarchive!swbatl!uusgta From: uusgta@swbatl.UUCP (4237) Newsgroups: news.admin Subject: Re: The Dynamics of Debate on USENET Message-ID: <822@swbatl.UUCP> Date: 27 Sep 89 20:55:39 GMT References: <35033@apple.Apple.COM> <46115@bbn.COM> <35037@apple.Apple.COM> <1989Sep27.175601.5363@ladc.bull.com> Reply-To: uusgta@swbatl.UUCP (Tom Adams ISO 5-4237) Organization: Southwestern Bell Tele. Co. - Advanced Technology Lab - St. Louis Lines: 39 >In article <35037@apple.Apple.COM> chuq@Apple.COM (Chuq Von Rospach) writes: >>o Discuss the posting, not the poster. >>o Stick to the discussion. >>o If the discussion isn't getting anywhere, then drop it. >>o If it's already been said, don't say it again. >>o If you're the minority viewpoint and you're not going to persuade people, >> then be gracious and get out of the way of the majority, even if you know To which should be added: If what bothers you is style, presentation, spelling, grammar, immaturity, pomposity, tenacity in pummelling a dead horse, general cranio-rectosis of the poster, or the look of someone's id, *use mail first*. You get the same relief, you get to say all those great phrases you thought of while reading that drivel, and you minimize the downside. They probally will get dozens of replies just like yours, which can only help future behavior. You change your worst case to one angry reply that makes you feel like a jerk (possibly a law suit if you pick the right net personage ... but they'll lose). It's usually easy to misunderstand the point, overreact, or got baited by someone better at being a public jerk. If what you really wanted was to get noticed by the well washed net.masses there are easier, more effective alternatives. Repeatedly generate your own original copywritten message in all caps. Mention automatic handguns, abortion, soviet access to the net and the fact that you know of a better price for that baby sealskin coat than the one posted in misc.forsale. (...hmm.. did I miss any good ones?) I guarantee you'll get a full mailbox. Just another fun loving lurker, -- # ---Tom Adams--- | uunet!swbatl!uusgta or uusgta@swbatl.swbt.com # I collect pre-1930 wireless, electrical and scientific books. # opinions... Opinions? I can have opinions here? Who said so?