From: glp@fig.citib.com (Greg Parkinson)
Subject: Re: Introduction
Originator: glp@merlin
Organization: Citibank IBISM
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 13:49:31 GMT


In article <1992Aug18.212941.21378@spdcc.com>, dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer) writes:
|> In article <1992Aug18.150648.14682@fig.citib.com> glp@fig.citib.com (Greg Parkinson) writes:
|> >Why not?  Because this Lovegod person has not proven 
|> >himself to be mean, or cruel, or homophobic, or any
|> >of the other adjectives which could describe someone
|> >who was worthy of derision.
|> 
|> Oh really?  You must have missed his "Midol/PMS" remarks.
|> The epitome of bitchy queeny misogyny.  A lot uglier than
|> Arne's remarks, IMHO.

And I'm sure that Arne was able to see into the future
to see what Lovegod would say in the future.  How clever.

|> 
|> >Because some of the people who read here and sometimes
|> >post here are not as flinty and thick-skinned as others,
|> >and may actually need some *support* and *acceptance*,
|> >and may actually be done some harm by being slapped in
|> >the face just for the fun of it.
|> 
|> Slapped in the face?

Lovegod, affected by Rob Bernardo's death and wanting
to reach out to other people in this newsgroup, posts
a message which might have been a little naive in 
its presentation.  He gets a "how nice for you"
response.  It was undeserved and unfeeling.
|> 
|> >Because bitterness and blase cruelty are ugly.  

|> Oh, please.  Arne's comments were about the mildest form of
|> "cruelty" I can imagine.  It's preposterous to describe them
|> with these words.

Steve, you've proven you have a singular idea of
what an appropriate response is to someone who posts
something personal. 

|> >Arne, you're a smart, witty, worldly person.
|> >I don't understand why you find it necessary 
|> >to be so toxic to people who really don't deserve it.
|> 
|> I think you have an Arne-bug up your butt, Greg.

Maybe I do, but I don't think it's just me.  He posts
enough to influence the overall feeling of soc.motss,
and the feeling (for me, at least) is not a good one.

That's fine, and I decided to not respond to things
he wrote that I didn't like - but one of important
functions of this newsgroup is to support our own.
To be mean to someone for sport because they haven't
your flair or because they are clumsy with how they
express themselves - that I don't want to sit back
and let go by. 

It makes me angry that among the (large n) number
of people who read soc.motss there are now some 
people who have been trying to screw up the courage 
to post, to talk to other gay people, other lesbians, 
and now maybe won't - because they see soc.motss as
not just an angry place, or a place with high
standards of thought (and grammar), but a
mean and unfriendly place.

Right, they should just get over it, get out
of the kitchen if you can't stand the heat,
this is Usenet and not the real world, blah, 
blah, blah.  I'm only responsible for what
*I* post and what I contribute to this 
newsgroup, and I like see postings from 
people saying "I'm just coming out and 
I've learned a lot here and I just told
my best friend and everything is getting 
better."  It may not be sophisticated or
witty, but it makes me feel good.  If 
that means I have a bug up my ass then I
guess the description fits.

-- 
Greg Parkinson                  Phone: 212-657-7814  Fax: 212-825-8607
Citibank,111 Wall Street        E-Mail: glp@fig.citib.com
New York, New York  10043
The opinions expressed are my own and not those of the big 'ol bank.
Newsgroups: soc.motss