From: tjw@vms.cis.pitt.edu (TJ Wood)
Newsgroups: alt.feminism
Subject: Re: "Alt.feminism - why it should be shut down.  A sample post!"
Summary: Edit while you can!  Monkey Boy!
Date: 30 Sep 92 06:44:14 GMT
Reply-To: tjw+@pitt.edu
Organization: University of Pittsburgh

In article <BvDDzH.2rv@cantua.canterbury.ac.nz>, moselecw@elec.canterbury.ac.nz (moz [chris moseley]) writes:

> tjw@vms.cis.pitt.edu (TJ Wood) writes:

>> > So, are you also this hostile to editors of newspapers, magazines, etc.
>> > Do you believe that they actually are in favor of censorship, regardless
>> > of how much they argue with anyone who tries it?

>> No, just to people who edit down my paragraphs and try to twist my words
>> into their own agendas!

> So, you only object if it's YOU personally who is edited? If it is some
> nameless writer for a newspaper, then that's fine?

I only object when paragraphs are taken out of context.  Most editors of
"real" newspapers know enough not to do that.  

There was a free newspaper that used to be published by an ultra-right wing
party that was handed out on the streets downtown.  I used to get a copy of
it and compare quotes of speeches that they used with quotes from other
sources.  This right wing paper did a tremendous job of twisting the quotes.
It was so obvious that President Reagan, or George Bush or The Queen of
England may have used the words, but clearly did not intend the meaning that
was attributed to them.

I often wondered if they really believed that anyone took them seriously.

But to answer your question, no, not *just* my words.  I object when they
do it to the Queen of England too! ;-)

> I also take it that you never write letters to the editor? Or give
> interviews to anyone? Or have anything to do with producing material
> for the media in general?  They ALL edit you to hell and gone, so that
> what you give them comes out how they want it.

Well, it is somewhat true that you have to be careful when talking to
reporters.  Many times, in a technical situation, the reporter does not
understand what is being discussed, but must file a report anyway.

I saw this once during the investigation of an airplane crash.  The fellow
from NTSB (or maybe the FAA) told the reporter that the plane crashed be
cause the pilot had "stalled" the aircraft too low to the ground.  This
meant that that the pilot had lost enough airspeed that the plane was unable
to remain airborne.  However, the reporter filed a story that the plane had
run out of gas and the ENGINE had stalled and the plane crashed.  Actually,
the engine was fine; there was plenty of gas (as evidenced by the fire after
the crash), but the pilot had got the plane into an attitude where he no
longer had enough air passing over the wings!

He couldn't recover in time because he was far too low to the ground!

Anyway, it occurred to me then to not believe everything printed in the
papers.  A story is only as good as the writer, of course!

And then there are the people who do it with malicious intent!

> 
>> > Or are you just completely close-minded on the subject of *feminists*
>> > who edit things, not editors and such in general?

>> Well, I don't think much of the feminists in "Men Against Rape and
>> Pornography".  I don't know how much they "edit". *laugh*

> who cares about the feminists, what about EVERYBODY else.

Hey, just trying to give it some "Feminist content" ;-)  Oh, well.

I guess I could ask if there are any other feminist groups like "Men Against
Rape and Pornography" in any other cities.  I should note that I've seen
them call themselves "feminists" and they have reported that they study
writings of female feminists at their meetings.  Then again, maybe the
reporter from the PITT NEWS got it wrong! ;-)

Terry
-- 
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"Laugh while you can, Monkey Boy!"                        - Lord "John" Warfin
"There can be only one!"                                  - The Highlander
"There should have been only one. I want my money back!"  - Terry
Newsgroups: alt.feminism