From: GELLDAV@karl.acc.iit.edu
Subject: extended inane ramblings
Reply-To: GELLDAV@karl.acc.iit.edu
Organization: The Internet
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 06:56:07 GMT

	Janice, you *are* a bigger Phish fan than I.  In fact,
 I'm new to the band, new to the net, and (in fact) new to 
e-mail itself. (What a concept!)  However, I *really* enjoy
 Phish -- I'm very glad I was led to discover them and I
 like the idea of the Phish.net.  I'm eager to learn. 
 Initially, I obtained my copies of everything there was to
 be had, (Phishstories, The HPB, Lyrics, and Netiquette) and
 then watched the net for a while to see what was up.  So,
 now I'll speak from my perspective (whatever that may be)
 as if I were a member of the community (I hope this is not
 to great an assumption to make -- I never imagined anyone
 here as elitist).  Actually, I felt very welcome and as a
 result, I am sending away for my very-own (first) Phish
 tapes...Yeah! :-).  I don't ever want to judge and I don't
 ever want to be judged,  I just try to insert my 23 cents
 worth and see what comes out.  If I'm a dweebie (or
 anything else), so be it.  I did send a letter to Janice
 over her personal e-mail (as per Netiquette instructions)
 telling her how I felt about her post.  Frankly, her words
 (and that other nasty event) put a damper on my initial
 excitement of this great new music / community.  No, my
 letter was not nice; it was my initial knee-jerk reaction
 (although I don't think it was too severe).  Basically it
 went something like this (I forget exactly):

	You are a sadly unenlightened individual.
	Although you have invented the first self-flaming post.
	Noone said anything about being superior (even now
	that you have berated yourself with your close-
	mindedness)
	Good luck to you and your karma in the future.

	Peace

The reason, Janice, that I sent it directly to you is that I
did not want to waste bandwith on it since it was a direct
flame.  No more negativity, I'm done.  On that note I'd like
to relate an experience I had today, maybe some of you
could help me figure it out: (I'm new at this)

	It was during Calculus class.  The professor was
explaining the workings of a certain problem and I was 
watching as the initial calculations, which began simply,
exploded into a wide formula of letters and symbols.  
Just as the problem began though it gradually evolved into
a point: the solution it was like the peak of the problem;
a mountain of calculations.  
	Something was wrong though, the room was strange and
I noticed that the colors had changed in the room, the
lights were doing something wierd.  As I focused to the new
conditions, I realized that the rest of the class had frozen
in suspended animation and the Prof. was speaking only to 
me... 
	Only, he wasn't speaking really although I understood
that he was communicating with me.  
	"Prof. Adler?"  I asked
	I knew  wasn't him though.  Suddenly I found myself
thinking about Phish, the band, the music, the community.
I began wondering what was happening on the net and thoughts
began to pop into my head that I knew were not my own.
	All that flaming is unnecessary I thought.
	Do not judge those you don't even know.
	Forgive those that you have judged.
	Treat others the way you would want to be treated.
	Always try to follow your ideals.
	Communicate, don't berate.
All these things that I knew but I had somehow forgotten.
Then, an idea struck me.  Post to the net, I thought, give
peace a chance.
	The whole time my Calc prof. was just standing there
staring at me with an all-knowing type presence that I've 
never seen before (although he does know a lot about math).
	The next thing I remember was the sound of my pen
hitting the floor.  Oh God!  Everything was back to normal
and the prof was working on a new problem as if nothing 
had happened.  They probably all thought that I had been
asleep but *now* I understood (not only the Calculus but
other things as well).  This is the knowledge I brought
from trig function peak:
	It is sad to see others misinterpret such a great
concept as Phish.net.  Perhaps, more Ph.R. (Phishy-
Relations) is in order between netters and non-netters.
My idea is this...maybe a small corner of the Phish 
newsletter devoted to the net?  Its purpose being the
education of non-netters of the net's existance and where
to find it, what to do if you do find it.  Is this 
a possible future reality?  It would be sad to see others
feel like outsiders to an "elite" group of Phishers.  Maybe
the net could be viewed as a service to all Phish fans
computer literate, or not.  This by spreading news (quickly)
of concert dates, tape trees, gatherings, etc...  Those
with computers could pass along Phish info to all thier
friends in the "real" (and I use that term loosely) world.
I imagine this is already the case as it is with me but
others probably don't see this side of the net and/or
don't understand that the net (I think) welcomes all. 
Who knows anything about the newsletter?  Who questions
my grip of reality?  Who cares?
	I apologize for the length and non-musical content of
this post but it was necessary for my sanity.  Can anyone
explain what might have happened to me in Calculus?
Could I have passed into Gamehenge?  Could that have been
Icculus himself?  Have I been enlightened (a little) or
misled?  Has anything like that ever happened to anyone
else?
	Last question:  Noteworthy says that the release
of Rift has been delayed ("call back Friday"). Does anyone know anything about this?  Could they be waiting for Feb 3?

Peace, peace, and more peace,

David Geller