From: smith@ug.cs.dal.ca (Sean Smith)
Subject: Re: Halfwits.
Organization: Math, Stats & CS, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 21:34:08 GMT

In article <1dn9rqINNd0v@agate.berkeley.edu> curtis@cs.berkeley.edu (Curtis Yarvin) writes:
>In article <BxH7JA.94K@cs.dal.ca> smith@ug.cs.dal.ca (Sean Smith) writes:
>>>
>>>But to be able to miss the difference between their posts and
>>>the usual standard of expression on alt.peeves?  This isn't
>>>funny anymore.  We're talking serious _illiteracy_ now.
>>>And, as the National Campaign for Adult Literacy puts it,
>>>"Illiteracy is not a joke."
>>
>>	Hell, I think that my English is just fine, thank you.
>
>Well, I'm sure it is; it was either your English or your manners,
>and since I have some of the latter I gave you the benefit of
>the doubt.

	*snigger*.  I'll take your word for it, Curtis.  I've seen precious
little of them so far on this newsgroup.  As for my manners, well, obnoxious
yanks who think that the Ewe Ess of Eh is the only real country in North
America and that all people north of 49 are "snow apes" tend to upset me a
little.

	But I digress.

>Regrettably, English is easier to teach than manners.  But I'll
>give it a shot:
>
>You appear to have come upon this group at something of a low
>point, and thus concluded that it is yet another of the myriad
>alt. or soc. "chat groups" - maybe something like soc.college,
>with a vaguely curmudgeonly twist.

	Actually, no.  I've been "lurking" around here for a while, and finally
decided to post.  Theory #1 shot down.

>It is not.  Rather, it is a place for intelligent and involved
>expression.  And, due to good fortune and rigorous persecution
>of newbies, it consists almost entirely of such.

	I'm sorry to have barged in on your upper crust snob club with the 
subtlety of a Mack truck but then again, I'm not an elitist like you are.
Please humbly forgive me for oh so unconsciously barging in on your private
little newagroup.  Might I offer the suggestion of a mailing list if you want
to keep it exclusive?  Far be it for me, a lowly newbie, to suggest something
to one of the Peeve gods.

>Here are some of the things we do not do.
>
>We do not chat.
>
>We do not follow up someone's entire post, then add a one-line
>"comeback."

	It seemed appropriate at the time.

>We do not flame each other, and when we do we keep the quality
>up to the usual level of expression.

	Which is...?  I'd like to see some examples.  Besides, the article of
yours that I am quoting seems to be in the nature of a flame.  Then again, I'm
not a member of the exclusive "alt.peeves" club.

>We do not post repartee of obviously indifferent quality; when
>there is nothing worth saying, we have the taste, restraint,
>and judgment not to say it.
>
>What you have done is the equivalent of hitting Chez Panisse on
>a barhopping run.  It is like taking a six-pack of beer and
>your crazy redneck friend from high school to go hang out at an
>art museum.  It is like going to a screening of "Casablanca"
>and shouting out advice to the characters.

	Sounds like fun.  When do we start?  I'll get the pickup and drop by.

>In short, it is simply not done.

	Only those who obviously take themselves too seriously don't do things
like the above.  Why don't you post "rules" for alt.peeves, then?  I wonder
how long it will take for them to fall by the wayside...

>If you were unaware of this, then please in future have the
>courtesy to read a group for a week or two, before you begin
>posting; and, perhaps, do the same for us.  

	Curtis, I've been reading this group (off and on) for 5 years now.  If
I believe that I might have something to add to the discussion, then I say so.

>I am sure you could have something to contribute, if you
>lowered the quantity and increased the quality.  Even Sybok
>is improving, and look what a fucking halfwit he is.

	Sorry, but our brains are frozen up here.  Bring up your skis in July -
we'll go skiing.

	Sean

-- 
Sean Smith - Dalhousie University  "I'm not paid to think - that's management." 
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada                    Don Cherry for Prime Minister in
01SSMITH@AC.DAL.CA or smith@ug.cs.dal.ca	'93 in Canada!
Disclaimer:  These ideas are mine...ALL MINE!!  'Cause noone else'd want 'em.