From: chang@ADELPHI-ASSB01.ARMY.MIL (Forrest Chang)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth
Subject: A sad day in r.m.s
Date: 16 Oct 92 21:20:37 GMT
Article-I.D.: adelphi-.9210162120.AA10141


	So John Rossi has been ousted not only from r.m.s but from netdom
and who knows what else....

	This is indeed a sad day for r.m.s, a group that is usually free
from pointless flamefests and other immature behavior.  R.M.S has always
been a good source of information and a rather unique community assembled
from a diverse group of resources.  While I am neither a keyboard player
(I can barely pass for being able to play a keyboard) nor a synthesist 
(years of trying to get into this), I do use midi, equipment, and above
else I create music (mostly the old fashion rock way of guitar, drums,
bass and vocals) and I get a lot from this group and contribute what I
can -- which is typically limited to equipment and electronic drum, and
studio setups.

	Due to the diverse membership of r.m.s there is certain to be
friction, i.e. analog vs. digital, I want an M1 vs. Microwave, etc.
Sometimes, stated opinions come off in a "not so nice" or "haughty"
fashion.  Hey, we're human, and sometimes in the passion of the moment
people say (or write, in this case) without thinking.  Sometimes silly
threads or inside jokes (there was this one thing about a analog stove
or something, that wouldn't die.) occur -- the human excuse, no problem.

	But the bottom line is that this groups is about the sharing
of Recreation, music, and sythesis among the r.m.s. whether that is
about equipment, was to make grasshopper sounds, live midi tips, whatever.
Despite some of John Rossi's offcolor remarks both related to and unrelated
to music or synthesis, he was a very good source of information and
experience.  If you look at the information he provided, you'll know
that.

	Other instances of revocation of net privelleges were usually
justifiable, i.e. immature people who contributed nothing and sought
unrelentingly to harass or force an opinion as many people people as
possible.  John Rossi did contribute a great deal to r.m.s.  He also
did not seek out people to harass, however if a topic on which he had
an opinion presented itself, you can count on him voice that opinion.

	This is what free speech gives you, unhindered transfer of
information.  The drawback is some of that information (or opinion
in this case) happens to not be very pleasant to some.  Perhaps, he
shouldn't have use offensive language in his personal response to
what he termed a chastization of his post, but should he have lost
all privelleges ++ ?  Now this is speculation as I did not actually
read the exchange in question, but what could he have said that was
so serious to receive the punishment that he did.  Was the other persons
safety threatened.  I don't know, but I doubt it.

	John Rossi apologized more than once on the net and asked not
to be taken so seriously.  Those who have read any sizeable number of
his posts know not to take his imflammatory remarks seriously.  There
are things such as "n", kill files.  He's got the freedom (in the U.S.)
to voice his opinions and you have the freedom to not listen/ignore them.

	So it comes down to freedom of speech, and this has been a long
standing issue.  Sure John has the freedom to say whatever he wants,
but NOT on EAGLE.AAMRL.WPAFB.AF.MIL as it is a federal resource.

	Devil's advocate:  If John did the same thing over a series
(once again I don't know the actual exchanges, only John's pithy
recount of the event) phone calls, would Ohio Bell disconnect his phone?

	To be fair, we need to hear both sides of the story.  Perhaps
John did say something truly terrible.  Once again, I don't know.
	
	Consider that everybody.

	Lastly, this is probably without precedence, but can we (believing
that I'm not in minority about this issue) do anything about reinstating
John, i.e. mass writing to root@EAGLE.AAMRL.WPAFB.AF.MIL, or whatnot?
He's a known hothead (on the net at least, I would guess so in person)
and I don't think he was doing any different on r.m.s than normal for him,
perhaps his email might have been way out of line, tho.  

	People make mistakes, forgive and forget.

	No hate mail, please.  This is just my opinion and I refuse to
get into any pointless flame war about it.


					Fo
					guitarist who gets a lot from r.m.s