From: adc@tardis.msu.edu (Alan D. Cabrera)
Newsgroups: rec.games.netrek
Subject: Re: The use of profanity
Date: 17 Nov 92 16:41:37 GMT
Reply-To: adc@tardis.msu.edu
Organization: Michigan State University

In article 10236@wixer.cactus.org, rhodesia@wixer.cactus.org (Felix S. Gallo) writes:
> adc@tardis.msu.edu writes:
> >In article 721334963@mowgli, josh@cqs.washington.edu (Josh Hayes) writes:
> >>
> >> Don't accuse me of being that shallow unless you know me. 
> >
> >I've always been taught to judge people by their actions, not by what
> >they claim to be.  People accuse you because of your actions and
> >postings on the net, which in alot of people's estimations have
> >consistently been immature.  If you choose to use profanity then you
> >must take the responsibilty of your actions; alot of people will think
> >you're an immature fool.
> 
> As opposed to just an illiterate fool? (cf. "alot", "responsibilty")

Cute. 

> Speaking for the majority of people who read and post to this newsgroup,
> Alan D. Cabrera, I don't know who the "people" are who "accuse" Josh
> of being shallow, and I don't know who the "people" are who will --
> in your estimation -- condemn John en masse for being immature.

Where do I say that there's this mass of people who are condemning
Josh?  All I'm saying is that if you use profanity don't be suprised if
people find it vulgar and think that you're immature, just as I'm not
suprised that when I voice my opinion that I find the use of profanity
base, that some people think of me as an idiot.  I posted my opinions
and I accept responsibility that a section of r.g.n readers will think
I'm I a narrow-minded moron; I'm not surprised nor hurt and I live with
it.

> In
> fact, let me take this revelation a little further:

Here it comes!

> I don't know who
> you are, and I don't know anyone who plays netrek who does know who
> you are.  All I see is this fellow leaping into rec.games.netrek moralizing
> and making proclamations and now, just recently, nominating himself to
> be supreme moderator of the netrek world.  I hate to say it, Alan D.
> Cabrera, but we don't need you.  What's more, we don't want you.  To
> go even further, we wish you would go away.

Ummm, this newsgroup isn't just for a few vocal well-known netrek
players and I didn't proclaim myself to be "supreme moderator of the
netrek world".

> >Having a Ph.D. doesn't make you mature, it just means you're an
> >immature brat with a Ph.D.
> 
> In much the same respect, being Alan D. Cabrera of the Computer Laboratory
> at Michigan State University doesn't invest in you the powers of state
> over netrek, rec.games.netrek, or the players and posters therein; it
> doesn't give you the voice of the people; it doesn't give you squat.

Nice use of hyperbole.  No really, it's quite good.  But this isn't
surprising as you get in alot of practice on the news.

> Josh has earned the respect of many people reading this newsgroup by being
> a good player and reasonable poster to this newsgroup.  Nobody I know
> holds even close to the same amount of respect for you.  

Josh has my respect, for those reasons, too.  I'm still of the opinion
that using profanity is immature.  It's just my opinion.  If people don't
respect me for having that opinion, so be it.

> But then,
> egotistical, featureless, uninteresting yapping tends to color the
> mental picture of a man.

Look in the mirror and read the above words aloud.

> I hope that you, Alan D. Cabrera, come to the realization that you are
> wrong to leap into a newsgroup -- which you don't even actively participate
> in -- and moralize and threaten and proclaim yourself a candidate for
> moderator.  

So, Felix S. Gallo, I can't post my opinion unless I am already an
active poster such as yourself.  If everyone followed that rule then
the only ones who could post would be people such as yourself; a
situation I'm sure you desire and actively promote by your actions.

Also, where do I threaten?  How is it that your moralizing is OK and my
opinion is not?

> Please don't make the various intelligent people who read
> this group humiliate you in news.groups.  We have better things to do
> with our time than teach you how to use a kill file.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander Felix.  Why is it that
it's OK for me to use my kill file to cull spastic drivel such as yours
and it's a big deal if you people use a kill file to cull my
level-headed gems of perfection that issue from my keyboard?  :-)

Actually the problem with the kill file is that Subjects tend to
drift.  If you use a kill file you can miss out on a lot of good
ideas.  Moderating technical subgroups would keep them on track.  But
this is for news.groups.

I understand that your's and other's more coherent concern is that
there is a danger in censoring communications.  I agree.  My main
concern is that there is a small vocal self appointed cadre of people,
who by virtue of the fact that they spend an inordinate amount of time
posting articles, think that they have the right to intimidate people
from expressing their ideas on r.g.n.  I put it to this group that this
form of intense irrational flaimming is in itself a form of unwanted
moderation.

Case in point, my employee Mike, who is the server god of discovery (I
hear sighs of relief?!?! That's right I'm not the server god), as a
rule does not post to r.g.n because he doesn't want to deal with the
irrational flamings.  BTW, we have the no profanity rule on discovery
because we are required by the University; we like our jobs and want to
keep our SPARC 2s on our desks :-).

> The net does not exist for your personal aesthetic pleasure.

Nor yours Felix.  

---
Alan Cabrera				internet:  adc@tardis.cl.msu.edu
Computer Laboratory			phone:     (517) 353-3027
Michigan State University		fax:       (517) 353-9847
514 Computer Center			bitnet:    CABRERA@MSU
East Lansing, MI 48824
Newsgroups: rec.games.netrek