From: haas@wam.umd.edu (The Future Mr. Graf)
Subject: Re: Offensive Articles in the Group (was: Steffi Graf ...)
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1992 20:02:08 GMT

In article <1992Sep26.185845.6503@cbnewsh.cb.att.com> shun@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (shun.cheung) writes:
>In article <1992Sep26.123014.10649@wam.umd.edu> haas@wam.umd.edu (The Future Mr. Graf) writes:
>>In article <1992Sep25.203612.3241@onetouch.COM> phil@onetouch.COM (Philip D. Turner) writes:
>
>>>It's sad to see someone who has made positive contributions to a
>>>newsgroup drop it because of all the idiots out there that don't
>>>want to talk about the tennis the sport but instead want to speculate
>>>about the personalities of tennis.
>>>
     #1) I believe "idiots" is oftly rude.  
     #2) You can't tell me that the personalities of players aren't
         discussed on this conference.  I believe that one big topic 
         right now is about Martinas finances, which I believe under
         your rules has nothing to do with "tennis the sport" and 
         does "speculate about the personalities[or personal lives]
         of tennis players.  Gee, I guess everyone commenting on 
         this topic would fit into your "idiot" category.
>
>>I'm happy with 
>>my strings, so should I unsubscribe to this group because I'm sick and
>>tired of hearing about whether VS Gut is better than Prince Topspin?
>
>I think there is a major difference between articles on topics
>that one is not interested in and articles that are sexually
>explicit and therefore offensive to some, women in particular.
>
     To the best of my knowledge, nothing sexually explicit was 
     said, unless you talking about measurements, which I don't 
     really this is "sexually" explicit.  Talking about Steffi Graf's
     sexual appetite would be "sexually explicit" and I wouldn't
     blame you for unsubscribing.  I think the only crime committed here
     was that of carrying a conversation on way too long.
>
>Recently, there have been quite a few articles on women players.
>They started with their height and weight, then their appearance,
>then it really started getting worse and worse, dealing with topics
>such as "vital statistics" and others that I won't even mention.
>
     Height, weight, and apperance has every right to be talked about
     in this conference.  This conference is about TENNIS, and unless
     I'm incorrect, TENNIS PLAYERS would fit into that category.  
     I don't think that telling a players AGE, or WEIGHT, or even 
     APPEARENCE is out of the realm of good taste.  I agree that 
     bust size might be stradling that line, and we should 
     refrain from making such comments.  If you want the conversation
     here free of Physical Comments, then lets just stick to 
     "The Perfect String" or "Results From A Tournament".  These are
     good topics, but they are extremely limiting.  I made a comment
     that Mary Pierce had really become beautiful as she grew up.  I 
     don't think this is in poor taste, and I'm sorry if it offends 
     you.  You might consider subscribing to 
     ALT.TENNIS.NOTHING.BUT.THE.SCORES.AND.STORIES.ABOUT.STING.TENSION 

>Rec.sport.tennis is still an unmoderated group and we are basically
>free to post whatever we want. Again, for those of us who are
>fortunate enough to have been born with a brain, use it when posting
>articles. Advoid sexually explicit remarks and totally unsubstantiated
>attacks/flames on players and fellow netters.
>
     I do consider the "Idiot" comment made earlier somewhat of a slam,
     and I find if funny that you can say "for those of us who are 
     fotunate enought to have been born with a brain" and 
     "unsubstantiated attacks/flames on ...fellow netters" in the 
     same sentence.  Just because some of the people on this conference
     choose to talk about a topic that you don't care for does not
     make them "brainless".  That makes you a hypocrite.  

     Look, my whole point is that conversation about a players age
     or weight or apperance DOES have a place on this conference.
     It started with someone asking about Steffis height and weight 
     and age.  This is acceptable, IMO.  It then progressed to other
     players on the circuit.  I still don't think this is a problem.
     We should have the right to comment on this.  Beyond that is 
     open to debate, but I don't think that REC.SPORT.TENNIS should 
     be constrained to strictly facts that we can read in U.S.A. Today.
     Some discretion should be used when posting, but beyond that, just
     deal with it.  If it bothers you, SKIP TO THE NEXT POST.  If you all
     want to spend a month or two and get some conference going about
     whether or not these comments have a place, fine.  But I had better
     not see one comment about Stefan's height or how Jennifer has 
     gained so much weight.  These will now be off limits.  We can just
     stick to the facts.

     NEXT!

     


-- 
***********************************************************************
* Jeffrey Haas     * We Come From The Land Of The Ice And Snow        *
* HAAS@WAM.UMD.EDU * From The Midnight Sun Where The Hot Springs Blow *
***********************************************************************
Newsgroups: rec.sport.tennis