HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: coei@cco.caltech.edu (Christopher K. Oei)
Newsgroups: alt.romance
Subject: STORY: Silence
Date: 2 Jan 1993 08:44:03 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
NNTP-Posting-Host: alumni.caltech.edu


Just a little story I wrote tonight.

Enjoy,
Chris

story follows ->

                                     Silence

           Look at her, clutching that book to her breast as if it were her

      baby.  Look at her eyes, downcast and unfocussed, uncomprehending as

      though to deny the existence of her surroundings.  Look at her mouth,

      her lips pressed tightly together as if to keep her voice locked

      within, for within silence, there can be no pain.  Within the walls

      she holds around her, one senses destruction. 

           The man watches her impassively for long minutes, then

      disappears into a store.  When he comes out, he is holding a

      long-stemmed rose.  He walks to her slowly, but directly.  He stops

      in front of her. 

           For long moments, neither of them move or speak, and it seems

      that she is not aware of him.  Then, almost imperceptibly, her

      breathing changes.  Her eyes watch the rosebud, which he holds out in

      front of him for her to take.  She blinks.  She is in turmoil now. 

      She cannot take the flower from him, and yet she cannot turn away. 

      Her anxiety builds until it becomes unbearable.  She looks up at his

      face, eyes blazing with anger, her body shaking with fear. 

           He does not smile at her.  His eyes show compassion, but no

      condescension.  She is confused.  Only then does she realize that

      with his other hand he is holding a piece of paper.  It reads,

          

                               Art sale benefiting

                         The Institute for Deaf Education

                            At noon, Larksberry park. 

     

           Sometimes, only the deaf can hear. 


Newsgroups: alt.romance
From: michael@jarthur.claremont.edu (Michael Elkins)
Subject: Re: This Really BITES IT! (Pardon My Language)
Keywords: Rats, RATS, RATS!!!!!!
Organization: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1993 04:18:41 GMT

In article <stone.725642712@cwis> stone@cwis.unomaha.edu (Travis Stone) writes:
>So, tell me, gang: How many of you (of either gender persuasion) are
>in this same (or a similar) boat?

I live in southern California, she lives in DC...

*sigh*

me, net lurker
Newsgroups: alt.romance,alt.romance.chat
From: cs151kx@lamar.ColoState.EDU ()
Subject: Me CSJ, TOPH
Date: Fri, 01 Jan 1993 10:10:54 GMT
Organization: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO  80523


	 Hello, My name is TOPH, ChrisTOPHer S, Johnston,

	 I would like to be involvved in thid group because i feel that
	 i have something to share with the romantics out there.
	 I attend Colorado State University in Ft. Collins Colorado
	 and live in Colorado Springs, Co. 

	 Yes. . . I was the person that posted the Pick up line article
	 but that was because i thought it would humor my friends as 
	 well as anyone else in this newsgroup(s).

	 I hope that the romance in the world lives like the spirit of 
	 humanity and will do anything in my power to make sure that 
	 all those around me keep the spirit alive.

	 May the roads rise up to meet you, and the light shine upon your 
	 solar calculator,  forgive me if i am wrong, but i believe that
	 humor has a great deal to do with romance. What do you think?

	 Sincerely, Lates

	 ChrisTOPHer S, Johnston

   ___________________________________________________________________________
   I   ______  ____   ___  /   /     cs151kx@lamar.colostate.edu              I
   I     /    /   /  /  / /___/      ChrisTOPHer S. Johnston                  I
   I    /    /   /  /--- /   /       Colorado State University                I 
   I   /    /___/  /    /   /      AND NO, WHAT I SAY DOES NOT REPRESENT CSU  I
   I__________________________________________________________________________I
From: weaver@jetsun.weitek.COM (Michael Gordon Weaver)
Newsgroups: alt.romance
Subject: Re: expectations and idealism
Date: 22 Dec 92 22:21:14 GMT
Organization: WEITEK Corporation, Sunnyvale CA

In article <22DEC199209121423@iago.caltech.edu> lanny@iago.caltech.edu (Hsieh, Lai Lanny) writes:
>
>hi everyone, my boyfriend and i are having a bit of a problem...i guess
>i'll post it and see if any of you have any helpful advice for me...
>this might be kinda long...:)
>

Dear Lai Lanny:

    It sounds to me like your boyfriend is taking you for granted.
Most people will take you for granted if you let them. He has been
letting you do most of the work, and now that you suggest that he
should do his share, he naturally resists.

    First, he hides you from his parents. It is usually a bad sign when
he won't acknowledge you to others. Then he has the bad taste to
criticize your Christmas gift. It sounds like he felt guilty that you
had made a fuss over him when, clearly, he hadn't.

    Never take seriously any argument that is based on 'what guys do'.
First off, what other people do is irrelevant. The only thing that
matters is what the two of you want. Second, anonomous 'guys' are a
convenient way to pass off bogus philosophies as facts of life.  His
argument seems to be that since he will grow up to be a couch that
burps, he shouldn't have to act like your boyfriend now. Would you say
'I will be old some day, so why should I even bother to try to look
attractive?'.

    If he was trying hard, and wasn't doing a good job (he had two left
feet, his taste was horrible, etc), then it would be petty to be critical.
But you are just asking him to make an effort. If he is going to be your
boyfriend, then he should expect to put some effort into it, just as 
you expect that as his girlfriend that you should put some effort into
it. If he can't see that, he is never going to be worth much. Let him
know that you expect something out of him. 


Good Luck,
Michael.


    
Xref: sparky alt.romance:15616 alt.romance.chat:22674
Organization: Arizona State University
Date: Saturday, 2 Jan 1993 20:19:21 MST
From: <ICSJM@ASUACAD.BITNET>
Newsgroups: alt.romance,alt.romance.chat
Subject: Re: Equality between men and women; is there such a thing?
Distribution: na
 <1993Jan3.020545.13512@eff.org>

definately the term "equal" needs defining......let's look at it from a
military point of view.....yes, a woman can fly a jet as good as a man....
yes a woman can sail a ship as good as a man....but NO a woman could
participate in the jungles of some south eastern country.  Maybe as a
nurse or medic, but not in the jungle working in teams....especially
the work I did in Viet Nam......a womans survival rate would probably
be about 2 or 3 seconds.
Newsgroups: alt.romance
From: hepting@engr.latech.edu (Bill Hepting)
Subject: Re: READ ME.
Organization: Louisiana Tech University
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 03:52:53 GMT

In article <ByMxLG.9G2@nic.umass.edu> pfloyd@titan.ucc.umass.edu (BlackWing Restorations, Ltd.) writes:


>>|> 
>>|> You people annoy the hell out of me.
>>
>>interesting... happy to oblige :)


>We aim to please...

>Side Note:
>       This phrase is also on a sign above the commodes in the BBC
>building's loos (bathrooms, for you non-Anglolexics)... it says "BBC:
>We Aim to Please"      in one of them (I swear this is true), someone
>scribbled the following phrase under it:
>       "Will you aim too, please?"
>This is a true story, using Sgt Eric MacRay (22SAS) as a reference, as
>he's the one who saw it...

>pf

I saw one, too:

	"The sign said 'wet paint', so I did!"




>-------------===========**********===========-------------
>              BlackWing Restorations, Ltd.
>            Investigations, Personal Security
>               and Restorations a specialty

>     Can be reached via the following Internet address:
>               pfloyd@titan.students.umass.edu

>No case to easy, no fee too large, no ammunition expenditure
>too gratuitous. no body count too high... call now for an
>inexpensive consultation.
From: pablo@eye1.cognet.ucla.edu (Pablo Lapuerta)
Newsgroups: alt.romance
Subject: Dating the woman at Mom's office
Date: 23 Dec 92 18:46:02 GMT
Reply-To: pablo@cognet.ucla.edu
Distribution: ca
Organization: UCLA Cognitive Science Research Program

In article <92354.174252F36SI@CUNYVM.BITNET> <F36SI@CUNYVM.BITNET> writes:
>         One of the reasons that I was reluctant to call this girl (from
>         my last posting) was that things would get around the office,  
and
>        surprise!  Back to my mother.  So, this morning (Saturday) I am  
eating
>        my breakfast trying to lay low, when my mother pipes up, "Aren't  
you
>        supposed to be taking Nancy out today?"  When I asked her how she
>        found out, she said that the mailgirl told her, who was told (I  
assume0
>        by Nancy, the girl I am taking out.  Ayayayayaeeee!!!
> 
>        I told my mother not to worry about it.  It should not surprise  
me
>        though.  Office scuttlebutt travels like wildfire.  I am  
surprised
>        my mother had the guts to bring that up with me.  Well,  
graduation
>       is in June and I'll be out of the house by then.  Any advice on  
how
>        to handle (or not handle?) this would be appreciated.
>                         Matt
Congratulations!  And thanks for the follow-up. I hope the date goes well. 

Personally, my parents are very annoying with cutsie hints whenever they  
find out about a potential (or actual) SO.  

Advice Option #1.
Grin and bear any annoying cutsie hints/questions.

Advice Option #2.
Act completely innocent/naieve/square.  Make references to "the birds and  
the bees".  Use "golly" and "gee whiz" every time you refer to your  
friend. Ask your Mom if flowers and a corsage are indicated on a first  
date.  Tell her you will be back by 10 (even if you plan to return at 1),  
and describe your after-dinner drink as "soda pop" (even though it's hard  
liquor).  

Advice Option #3.
Shock your mother some by answering a pesky inquiry with an outlandish  
answer.  If  she asks "what did you think of xxx?" you answer "she's a  
totally hot babe, she has an amazing body, and I'd do her in a second."

Good luck!

Pablo
Newsgroups: alt.romance
From: jturner@lonestar.utsa.edu (John M. Turner)
Subject: Re: This Really BITES IT! (Pardon My Language)
Keywords: Rats, RATS, RATS!!!!!!
Organization: University of Texas at San Antonio
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 22:51:31 GMT

In article <stone.725642712@cwis> stone@cwis.unomaha.edu (Travis Stone) writes:
>
>So, tell me, gang: How many of you (of either gender persuasion) are
>in this same (or a similar) boat?

Well, I can say I'm in a similar boat.  I'm down here in San Antonio (South
Texas, that is :-) ) and I manage to meet a very wonderful woman who lives
in Minnesota.  After looking at assorted maps, I find that we live 1012 miles
apart, give or take a few.  However, I certainly don't hold the record for
long distance.... (but I bet I can compete on the long distance bill *grin*)
 

Until someone invents the transporter (or some other form of teleportation),
the Long Distance Relationship will continue to exist.
(Either that, or we learn to mail ourselves through e-mail :-) )


John "J.T." Turner
Wondering what she's doing right now...
Newsgroups: alt.romance,soc.couples
From: Catherine.Collingwood@launchpad.unc.edu (Catherine Collingwood)
Subject: help!  worried about friends...
Organization: University of North Carolina Extended Bulletin Board Service
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 03:58:09 GMT

Help!
Two friends of mine (ages 17 and 19) are engaged, which in itself is not 
necessarily a bad thing, but...

It has recently come to my attention that, even though the marriage is
mere months away, neither of them have thought to start talking about
such minutae (sp?) as financial plans, where they're going to live,
how they're going to tell their parents (which bothers me on another 
plane too), etc..
And they keep asking me for advice on how to make a relationship work!

I've tried several times to suggest to my friends -- both of whom are
college students -- that they get a third party involved to advise
them in setting up a successful marriage.  I'm not talking about a
prenuptal agreement, I'm talking about talking out plans for a life
together.  However, the next question is, of course, who?
My answer?  A priest.  I'm far from religious myself, being an EXTREMELY
lapsed Catholic, but I grew up that way and I know that this kind of
advising is part of a preist's training.  I myself am engaged, and
it has been suggested to me to go on a retreat that the Church 
periodically holds to work on this same stuff.  My parents' fairly
successful 18-year marriage owed a good part of its success to a
retreat such as this.
The problem?  My friends are notoriously anti-religion.  I can't
convince them that the priest isn't going to tell them how to live
their life, but merely help them figure out what -they- want to do.
But the minute my friends hear me say the word "priest" they don't
hear anything else.

So do any of you know of anyone else I can suggest that is fairly
inexpensive?  They also told me that a marriage counselor is too
expensive (something I can understand) and there's nothing wrong 
with their relationship either.  In short, my friends want advice,
but refuse to believe me in that certain types of counsellors won't
be biased.
I really want my friends to work out, and I think that if they don't
get bogged down in the little things, they will.  But what kind of
a marriage is it where they start out without even a house to live in
or a way to pay for it?

Thanks so much
Lady Firebird
aka Catherine
--
   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
           internet:  laUNChpad.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80
From: bobert@informix.com (Robert Murphy)
Newsgroups: alt.romance
Subject: Re: Hey somebody help me !!!!!!!!!!
Date: 23 Dec 92 22:30:13 GMT
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.

oz1kuz@aud2.aud.auc.dk writes:
>For some time ago I have meet a girl from Lithuania. I was fall
>in love with her the first time I saw her. I have been out with
>her some times and she was very nice. I had a feeling of that
>she also were fall in love with me. That feeling had I until
>yesterday were I was visiting her.

>We were talking about many things and then she said something
>about another guy there were jealousy on me. He had said to her
>that she should choose between him and me. She said that she
>didn't want to do that because there was nothing between us. The
>only thing I didn't find out were if she was his girl or not,
>because she wasn't say anything about it. She just said that we
>were friends.

>My problem is now that I don't know what to do. I don't know if
>she are free or not. And if she not are free shall I then take
>care of that or shall I just go on as if she were free. The only
>thing I know is that I like her very much. So much that I almost
>would do everything what she would like me to do.

My experience with American women is that they don't talk to a potential
boyfriend about other their relationship or about other men unless they
are trying to say something serious.  From a male perspective (at least,
this male's perspective), it can be hard to figure out exactly *what*
they are saying, but they *are* saying *something*, and it's usually
worthwhile to find out what.

When this woman says there's nothing going on between you and she, and
talks about the other man, it seems to me she could be saying one of
several things:
1. She's just mentioning the situation for your information, and doesn't
   mean to say anything more than that.  I've never met an American woman
   who would do this; it seems to be culturally ingrained not to do this.
2. She's trying to tell you that she doesn't feel romantic about you and
   just wants to be your friend.  This might be because she feels romantic
   about the other guy.  Again, I've never met an American woman who would
   do this; she'd come right out and tell it to you directly, rather than
   hinting at it like this.
3. She's trying to tell you that she *does* feel romantic about you, and
   wants you to be more aggressive about it.  When she says, "There's nothing
   between you and me", the implication is, "But there should be something!"
   When she says, "This other guy is bugging me about you," the implication
   is, "If you don't hurry up and get romantic, well, there are other men
   out there who will."

It's quite possible that a Lithuanian woman would not mean the same sorts
of things as American women, but I think you should find out.  I would
actually suggest being more aggressively romantic with her, and if that's
not what she meant, you'll find out pretty quick.

Regards,
Bob Murphy
bobert@informix.com
Newsgroups: alt.romance
From: ae498@yfn.ysu.edu (Dawn Bott)
Subject: Re: Gleep's responses
Organization: Youngstown State University/Youngstown Free-Net
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 17:44:00 GMT



WEIRD is in the eye of the beholder...


personallthink Gleep's statements make a hell of a lot more
sense...and show a much deeper level of human understand and
compassion than ANYTHING Keith Garrard ever chooses to bless us
with...


say hi to Froggy for me, Gleep....and keep up the great wokr
(work) with the sign language!! =D



Cheers,

Dawn....
-- 
 ...Some day you will travel all the way from Vermont just
    to get your eyes chewed off by a dog....
 
      -- Deep Thoughts with Gleeep on A.R.
From: keithg@cnmhnet.UUCP (keith garrard)
Newsgroups: alt.romance
Subject: Re: Need romantic way to propose
Date: 21 Dec 92 17:11:38 GMT
Organization: California-Nevada Methodist Homes

In article <184681@pyramid.pyramid.com> mwoo@pyrnova.pyramid.com.pyramid.com (Margaret Woo) writes:
>>In article <kilborn.724541562@vincent2.iastate.edu> kilborn@iastate.edu (Scott E Kilborn) writes:
>>>I am planning on asking my SO the big question soon and I need
>>>some suggestions on neat ways to ask her.  I am hoping to not
>A friend of mine took his bride-to-be out to dinner.  He arranged the ring
>to be placed on a dessert tray and presented to her with a number of 
>desserts.  The waiter came around with the desserts and said to the 
>woman, "would you like anything on this tray?"  My friend then proposed to
>Margaret

Oh Margaret, while this sounds OK, and was probably romantic for
the couple involved, it has been done before, with a little variance.
Some people have dropped the ring into a glass of champagne, and then 
when the lady is ready to drink, she sees the ring, and voila!  Others
have put the ring into the center of a box of chocolates.  I recommend
doing something wild and crazy, that is totally off-the-wall and 
different.  Be original.  
--Keith

From: Midwestman@f4.n290.z1.aisbbs.com (Midwestman)
Sender: postmaster@aisbbs.com
Newsgroups: alt.romance
Subject: Do Women Really Want A Guy That Makes Them Laugh?
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 09:36:24

 j> The laughter *is* one of the, lets say, top five things 
 j> that *I* look for in a
 j> man... Granted, the other four are just as important, but without laughter
 j> happiness, and the general warm feeling that one gets from the two, 
 j> it just isn't worth it to pursue more!
 j> As for the others in my "top five"
 j>  1) A man has to be able to share in my dreams, and allow me to share 
 j>  his. Not that our "dreams" need to be the same, but that we can help

etc...

What a thoughtful message...rather refreshing!
Thanks...


Newsgroups: alt.romance
From: ae498@yfn.ysu.edu (Dawn Bott)
Subject: I write "you're welcome" but my letters keep coming back..
Organization: Youngstown State University/Youngstown Free-Net
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 17:04:53 GMT




GLEEEP!!



what's the deal, slick??


I have tried to reply to your posts 2X and the mail
daemon 

RETURNS TO SENDER!!!


<insert appropriate Elvis tune....>


{Viva! Las Vegas......}


[oops...sorry, wrong one.....]




=)



now returning you to the insightful posts as well as the inane
drivel...(leaving you to sort it out!)



......Dawn..........



(a week from today....England-bound!! =)....
........Stewart:   so what's the decision, chap?????????)



-- 
 ...Some day you will travel all the way from Vermont just
    to get your eyes chewed off by a dog....
 
      -- Deep Thoughts with Gleeep on A.R.
From: keithg@cnmhnet.UUCP (keith garrard)
Newsgroups: alt.romance
Subject: Re: John Fippen
Date: 24 Dec 92 18:48:56 GMT
Organization: California-Nevada Methodist Homes

In article <BzoA9D.5s7@acsu.buffalo.edu> mec@acsu.buffalo.edu (Marie E. Copertino) writes:
>have concentrated far more on other goals.   I think you should examine the
>reasons for your bitterness.  You can not even nudge the surface of John
>and his family's happiness with your sarcastic words.  I feel for you, and
>I really hope your Christmas this year is closer to what you want it to be.

I've reread my original answer to Julie, and I fail to see how you
interpreted my response as sarcastic, especially when I didn't
insert the sarcasm symbol [ ;-)  ] .  I was being serious.  

I'll say this though, I feel for *you*, and truly hope your
Christmas this year is filled with less cynicism than it is
at this point.  However, thanks for caring.
--Keith

Newsgroups: alt.romance
From: charon@zephyr.cair.du.edu (Spaz)
Subject: Re:Equality between men and women; is there such a thing?
Originator: charon@zephyr.cair.du.edu
Organization: University of Denver
Distribution: na
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 93 03:37:53 GMT

>>Equality between men and women.  Equality straight across the board.  Not 
>>Equal when it suits a purpose, Not Equal just when it's convenient, but
>>Equality at ALL times be it good, or bad.  Knowing this, do you still
>>wish to be equal?


>Define what you mean by "equality" and I'll give you an answer.

Not to minimize importance of global equality, but for the sake of 
simplicity let's restrict equality relationships both sexual and
non-sexual.

If this is not definitive enough I would be willing to narrow it down some
more, but I would like to start with a reasonably broad base.


 ******************************************************************************
 ** Those who are labeled Crazy, Insane, or Weird are those who refuse to go **
 ** with the flow of the social norm. And so long as the norm is dictated by **
 ** the narrow minded, I too shall refuse.				     **
 ** 				  -- Spaz, charon@zephyr.cair.du.edu         **
 ******************************************************************************
From: nomi@cgl.ucsf.edu (Nomi L. Harris)
Newsgroups: alt.music.tmbg
Subject: Re: Top 5
Date: 21 Dec 92 17:58:44 GMT
Organization: UCSF Computer Graphics Lab

Ok, I don't usually post my responses to surveys like this, but
what the heck.

Off the top of my head, here are my five favorite TMBG songs (unordered):

Birdhouse in your soul
She's an angel
Hotel detective
Ana Ng
Particle Man

I like "Istanbul," too, but since it's a fairly faithful cover of the
original 1950s version, I can't really credit it as a TMBG song.

My favorite album overall is "Flood."

I saw TMBG live in San Francisco recently.  Fun show.  I was surprised
at how young the audience was; most of them looked to be about high
school age.

	Nomi

P.S. For those wondered how to tell John F. from John L., John L. is
the cute one. :-)