From: Veeramany.Sthanumurthy@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Veeramany Sthanumurthy)
Subject: Why do I read SCI ...
Organization: Extended Bulletin Board Service
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 17:09:24 GMT

Not for camaraderie, surely! Any that exists is well kept in reserve
for the carnival, whenever it is, wherever it is. Not for reading
sentimental goodbyes either, however nicely crafted they maybe. Even
that immortal among us, The Phoenix was not immune to these self-
doubts, apparently. Unfortunately, no sooner had he uttered these
words than he departed, wordless in the night to plunge into the
abyss. Perhaps, his maiden creation gave him the impetus to peddle
his wares in other fora.

Not for discovering new methods of argumentation, I am sure. But for
a few novel twists to the old "ad hominem" technique, such as "ad
nominem", "ad libbem", and that latest "seat of the pants" method also
known by the fancier term "analogic reasoning", there is little else.
Not to find out about the changing academic seasons using the 
frequency of the "test"s. The latest prolific topic post, all its
drawbacks notwithstanding, reveals that the novices are exceptionally
good at lying low, barring that institute in the shadow of Boston, named
after Jeeves' master. A number of creatures of appropriate extraction have
crawled out of this farm, obviously in search of willing prey. Armed with
powerful homing instincts, these critters are not going to be fooled and
are here to stay - after all, it is home.

Not for news, in spite of what the program used to spew this and other 
stuff is called. Such trivia have been rightly banished to their own
compartment. Though some ill-informed deviants go about correcting this
from time to time, for the most part this department is limited to
olds, sometimes extended to ancients. Not for poetry. Gone are the days
when line after rhyming line was flowing without, well, just flowing.
Even the resident laureate, except for the occasional toast, has turned 
to re-cycling in keeping with the times, I guess. Not for prose. Gone
are the days when such stylistic indulgences had masters at the helm.
Times are  rough, indeed. Getting choppier by the minute. Little wonder
then the culture enthusiasts are seeking more ballast.

Certainly not to stay cool.

Why then? For pointless stories? They seem to be headed toward the
vanishing point. Maybe that is a problem perspective. Or vice-versa.
Oh well ... Perhaps, someone with more imagination than I would 
have come up with a Top Ten list. Maybe will, yet. There is only
one possible reason I can think of. And, it keeps red shifting. I
shudder to think of the day when I return to find that I don't 
understand a word being said. On second thoughts ...

Sthan.

Heard on car-talk: Question: "Our bodies are 70% water. The earth
is 70% water. So it makes sense to eat foods which are 70% water-
like vegetables. Who said this: Jerry Brown, Shirley Maclaine or
The Vice-President Purchasing, General Motors?
--
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