From: thf2@ellis.uchicago.edu (Ted Frank)
Subject: Re: creating a frat newsgroup
Reply-To: thf2@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 22:29:19 GMT

In article <jamman1-161292141853@134.29.65.80> jamman1@vax2.winona.msus.edu (JOEL MARKOVITS) writes:
>In article <1992Dec11.163125.23773@midway.uchicago.edu>,
>thf2@ellis.uchicago.edu (Ted Frank) wrote:
>> Personally, I'm against it.  I've been trying to engage in reasonable
>> criticism of the fraternity system, but a split would make that impossible.
>> If I were to post to soc.college.misc, people would complain that the
>> discussion is not in soc.college.frat, but the reality of newsgroups is that
>> any criticism of fraternities would not be well-received or -aimed in a 
>> s.c.frat newsgroup, because the subscribers to that group would mostly be
>> members of fraternal organizations, and thus not particularly conducive to
>> two-sided discussion.  
>> 
>> I would continue to post in s.c.misc, because my posts are aimed at college
>> students in general.  Thus, if the split is being done to eliminate the
>> discussion of fraternities in s.c., it will fail, because the only thing 
>> a split would accomplish would be the generation of additional traffic
>> complaining "Why isn't this in s.c.frat" and me responding why I have no
>> interest in talking to people who have no interest in hearing anything
>> I say, whereas some people in s.c do. 
>> 
>> If the multitude of threads is a problem, I'll try to include the word "frat"
>> in all subject headers, so that kill-files will be most effective, and I
>> encourage others to do the same.
>
>Actually, subscribers to a greek newsgroup would be any body interested in
>the greek systems, for or against, like yourself. We would still be able to
>carry on your critical discussions of Greek systems but in a separate
>newsgroup, so as to keep this group open for other issues pertaining to
>college life.

I'm not interested in talking to people who've already made up their minds.
Someone supporting fraternity desegregation would be as welcome in s.c.frat
as a missionary in soc.culture.jewish or a Greek in soc.culture.turkey.  
You're kidding yourself if you don't think subscribers to s.c.frat wouldn't
try to yell me, or anyone who dares to suggest frats aren't perfect, out of 
that group with "If you don't like frats, UNSUBSCRIBE!"  It's bad enough
here. I have no desire to serve as flame-bait, and the majority of people 
I aim my posts for wouldn't subscribe to s.c.frat.  As I said, you can create 
the group, but it wouldn't stop me posting to s.c.misc, if that's your 
purpose.  It would just generate extra traffic to s.c.misc as people
complained that the frat debate isn't in s.c.frat.

This group is completely open to other issues.  If that's all you want,
then post about other issues.  A newsgroups can discuss more than one
issue, it doesn't have to be segregated as soon as an issue comes up.
If you don't want to see fraternity posts in s.c., learn how to use a
kill-file.  The reason nothing else ever gets posted here is because
noone brings up any other issue.  Personally, I find the discussion on
freedom of association and equal rights for women much more entertaining 
and interesting and relevant than the low-traffic of people asking for
addresses.  
-- 
ted frank                     | thf2@ellis.uchicago.edu 
standard disclaimers          | void where prohibited
the university of chicago law school, chicago, illinois 60637
Newsgroups: soc.college,alt.usage.english