From: shubu@cs.wisc.edu (Shubhendu Mukherjee)
Subject: Re: Newsgroup monopolized by riffraff?
Organization: Univ. of Wisconsin @ Madison, CS Dept.
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 16:26:39 GMT


>>>>> In article <1ek3snINN6ik@bigboote.WPI.EDU>, udumudi@vanilla (u v babu srinivas) writes:

UVBS> AB == Anindya Basu (basu@cs.cornell.edu) wrote:

AB> The following is a summary of a study I made regarding the nature 
AB> and quality of articles being posted on this newsgroup. The findings 
AB> are in the nature of a scientific enquiry and must be accepted in 

Anindya, I guess we already know this - but I guess it's TIME we DO 
something about it.  Your effort is appreciated.

AB> The latest flame wars between certain individuals from such obscure 
AB> places like WPI, Emory University, Massey University (who or what is 
AB> Massey anyway?), to name a few, have really degenerated into verbal 
AB> fisticuffs of a most abusive and obscene nature. It is high time that 

UVBS> I see. so people like me who come from such very obscure universities 
UVBS> have nothing better to do than to waste time, and people like you who 
UVBS> come from great universities like cornell have time only to conduct 
UVBS> 'studies' on the nature of the articles on s.c.i. haha.

UVBS> and pray tell why these great people from these great universities
UVBS> have not had great minds to create great kill files.

UVBS> and, btw, did you also notice that the best of the articles come from
UVBS> some obscure universities too [and sometimes from the very ones you
UVBS> quoted]

Now for heaven's sake - THIS IS ALSO degenerating into a typical SCI 
war.  Please this newsgroup is NOT your personal battlefield.  

AB> It seems to me that the majority of traffic generated in the newsgroup
AB> involves inane, puerile, immature, incoherent, intemperate rantings of 
AB> individuals who should know better than to use this newsgroup as a forum 
AB> to display their colossal ignorance and personal bigotry. Unfortunately,
AB> most netters seem to be under the impression that an unmoderated newsgroup 
AB> gives them the license to spew out the garbage in their minds as and when 
AB> they feel the urge. This not only wastes valuable bandwidth, but also 
AB> leaves most first time readers of the newsgroup with a bad taste in the 
AB> mouth.

UVBS> true. everyone knows that already, on s.c.i. 

So isn't it time that we do something about it?  Take sdoki, for example - 
isn't it time he puts restraint on his postings - why pray does he have 
to reply to every alternate posting - even after sci told him we are *not*
interested in your views.  (Now I am sure sdoki is going to reply to this, as
ususal).

It's not a question of simply putting names in kill files. (Think of the 
enormous traffic such articles generate).  As Anindya 
pointed out, personal, ugly wars with abusive language is not meant for
public consumption.  Some people post articles just for the sake of it - 
even if they don't have anything to say.  We surely could avoid such 
things in future. 

AB> Disclaimer: All opinions are mine alone and do not reflect the views 
AB>             of Cornell University.

UVBS> don't worry. I don't think anyone would believe that either.

I guess a little respect for one another on SCI would make matters better.

Luck!
-Shubu
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Shubhendu Sekhar Mukherjee       University of Wisconsin @ Madison, C.Sc.
Net:shubu@cs.{wisc,utexas}.edu   [W]:(608) 262-1012   [H]:(608) 255-6322
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