From: clear@cavebbs.welly.gen.nz (Charlie Lear)
Subject: Re: nz.waffle?? (was Re: Hello....hello...is anybody home)
Organization: The Cave MegaBBS, Public Access Usenet, Wellington, NZ
Date: Tue, 06 Oct 92 23:31:27 GMT

In article <BsR5RB2w165w@status.gen.nz> jonc@status.gen.nz (Jon Clarke) writes:
>> As for it using "the local network setup", guess what: you fucked up. I
> As the system administrator of your site I am a little upset to see not
> once but twice in two different messages use of this sort of language.
> As sysadmin YOU should KNOW better than to do this. 

Sorry, Jon, guess what: you fucked up.

You're not the administrator of his site, he is.

As Alex pointed out, the use of the word "fuck" in the context to which it
applied saved a lot of bandwidth, and conveyed an emotion and annoyance not
possible without using a much larger number of words.

I really can't believe your later posting where you stick your nose in the
air and pretend to be better than the rest of us.

The simple fact is, some of us may not be of the same socio-economic strata
as the average bank manager.  For this we can but apologise and sorrowfully
dwell upon the Might Have Been, if only we had made use of the opportunities
open to us earlier in life.  Use of the word "fuck" is an indication that we
are, to a greater or lesser degree, accepting within ourselves that we are
destined forever to exist on a plane somewhat lower than the one occupied
by our Potential Selves.

But living with ourselves, accepting our psyche for what it is, we have the
chance to broaden our horizons in other ways.  What we have witnessed is the
Network Schism, the dichotomy of the actions and attitudes of the Fidonet
Sysop versus the Usenet/Altnet/Bitnet/Arpanet/Internet System Administrator.

System Administrator is not a title to be used lightly; it is far more than
a pretentious name given to an officious sysop.  System Administrators view
their network node as part of an overall system.  They utilise the freedoms
and acknowledge the responsibilities that such interdependency brings.  They
do what they like on their own computers, but relate to the outside world in
a very controlled and responsible manner.
 
On the other hand, a Sysop is God on his/her own computer, and has an 
alarming tendency to act like it in his/her dealings with the world at large.

I am telling you this in the hope that you may be enlightened, and the pieces
of the global jigsaw click into place before your very eyes, that you may
see The Big Picture and achieve a realisation of your own and our goals.

I can only hope that my explanation conveys to you an inkling of the reasons
why System Administrators get exasperated and use the word "fuck" when 
confronted with a mere sysop who has been let out to play in the real world.

In organisation, in behaviour, in attitude, in interaction; Fidonet is a
primary school playground.  Remember your own school days, Jon.  Think back
to the time when you were in Standard Four, and were considered to be top
of the heap at school.  Recall what happened when you first started at high
school and tried to act as if you were still top of the heap.  The sixth and
seventh formers would have told you to fuck off in no uncertain terms.

Well, Jon, we have a comparable situation here.  The big-fish small-pond
Fidonet sysop just has to realise that when he ventures forth into the
world that he becomes very small fry indeed, and that he watches his step
lest the much larger and less refined System Administrators have him for
breakfast.

While Fidonet/fnet/znet/whatevernet may have been easily controlled with
threats and bullying tactics and invocations of the Dreaded Policy4, please
be aware that there are no such restrictions here.  You should feel glad
that we have tried to help you and point out the correct procedures to
follow (which you have studiously misinterpreted and/or ignored).  The only
reason you have not been flamed out of existence is that the more excitable 
net.people simply can't be bothered dealing with yet another fucking newbie.

If, after all this, you are still wondering what you have done to deserve
such a diatribe from an obvious lower-class oaf, then I will despair of your
ever becoming a system administrator and hang my head in shame.  On the
other hand, if you decide to ASK more experienced administrators for advice
and *take notice* of that advice when it is freely given, you will find that
the incidence of the word "fuck" in communications to or at you will drop
at an incredible rate.

You can't convince us that that whole world is marching out of step with
you (and Richard).  Get in step with the rest of the net and the world
magically becomes a much better place.


> the benefit of the doubt in all the email you have sent to me this 
> morning as no one can read that bar you I and a nosey site on the way

This isn't fnet.  System Administrators are far too busy and couldn't
give a toss about email in transit through their systems, unless it is
causing problems at their own or someone else's site.  Even then, the
headers are of far more interest than any content likely to be seen.

> use of profane language only demeans your cause and puts the nz domain
> in ill-repute for allowing this sort of traffic to be propogated 

Bullshit, Jon.  Its use has, so far, been singularly appropriate and
restrained.

> This is my two cents worth.

If that.

-- 
Charlie "The Bear" Lear | clear@cavebbs.welly.gen.nz | Kawasaki 750GT DoD#0221
Databits Computer Co / Shareware Distribution NZ        Ph/Fax  +64 4 564-5307 
PO Box 2009, Wellington, New Zealand        The Cave MegaBBS +64 4 5642269 V32