From: learn@speedy.acns.nwu.edu (William J. Vajk)
Subject: Exercising Caution When Making Attributions (was Re: ... Boycott)
Organization: Dares No Organization Like Dis Organization
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 14:14:52 GMT

In article <1992Sep2.171951.22044@gateway.novell.com> Terry Lambert writes:


>	I think we are all aware of the failings of usenet as a political
>organizational tool, or as an organizational tool in general.  People will
>read only the topic categories in which they are interested in, and it is
>this categorization (and the [mostly academic] pressure to keep it) that
>prevents it from being used this way.

In the last several years, I have noticed that the failing of Usenet has 
moved to a much more elementary plane. There are very simple reading and 
comprehension problems in this population, including, I am sorry to say, in 
Terry Lambert's understandings of the thread in which (s)he is participating.

>	This is the issue of which I believe Mr. Vajk has now been made
>painfully aware, with regards to using it as an announcement mechanism.
>He is not incorrect, however, in his assumptions about the much greater
>bredth of distribution (and potential consideration) his ideas would
>recevive, if posted in such a fashion, and that was his stated intent.

Dear Terry,

I have known the limitations of the use of the network for quite a few 
years, having been a participant in these quarters for quite some time.

Just which of "his ideas" are you referring to when you make the statement
in the paragraph included above? I have discussed the poorness of the logic
recommending against a broad based posting of someone's ideas and opinions.
Have you now, carelessly, atributed the entire boycott recommendation to
be my idea? I certainly hope not as I never suggested that, nor do I
support a concerted (some might call it a conspiratorial) effort. But it
sure looks as though you have attributed the boycott concept to me.

>	He did not proceed to *act* on this idea, and many people are
>treating him as if he did.  The newsgroups included (even in this posting)
>are quite germane to the topic of the AT&T suit.

But it seems you have done even worse, you have left the impression that
I am pro-boycott, indeed there is lots of reason to understand, from your
article, that I initiated this entire thread.

>This is, I believe, the concern that Mr. Vajk is stating.

Thank you for your kindness, but I did not state any concerns. I questioned 
the logic of an article (and mildly flamed the author.)

>	All this is no reason to jump down Mr. Vajk's throat over his idea;
>it's reason to dismiss the idea as unfeasable, and allow him to go on to
>something else (besides answering hate mail).

Once more, Terry, just what "idea" are you attributing here?

>	I support his idea of a boycott, but am not participating in it
>for the same reason I believe others are not, and the same reason I believe
>others did not participate in the effort to keep CSRG alive:  lack of motive
>organization.  You can not simply state "act this way because..." and expect
>a groundswell of support because your idea is "right and just".

There, now "ya done gone and dunnit!"

You have actually attributed to me something which is not my idea, I
never proposed this boycott. I do not support the idea either, in the
sense in which it has been presented to the net by others.

>	I certainly am not jumping on Mr. Arromdee for his post; it's just
>that I got pissed off at what was going on, and happened to pick his article,
>out of the many, many articles thrashing Mr. Vajk to post my followup.

Apparently you'd have done much better had you read the original articles in 
the thread. At least you'd have understood what was being said without 
misattributing ideas. You could never have replied as you have had you read 
my article.

If you don't have time to do it right the first time, when will you have the 
time? Once you're caught with errors as you have posted in this thread???

I expect a public retraction, Terry.

Bill Vajk

Newsgroups: gnu.misc.discuss,comp.sys.apollo,comp.sys.hp