From: ulick@chopin.helios.nd.edu (Ulick Stafford)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.celtic
Subject: Re: Two Celtic cultures -- two newsgroups
Date: 15 Apr 92 23:26:06 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.1992Apr15.232606.12498
Organization: University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame

More important work has called the last few weeks, so I haven't been reading
news, so it was interesting to catch up on the last 5 days or so that my\
reader saves to see Scottish politics discussions, a bitter row about who
has the right to talk baout Northern Ireland, esp. whether Americans are
entitled to opinions, and a call for split off of political discussions.

Well, my tuppence ha'penny worth.

1) Not too long ago s.c.c was a very sleepy group with very few postings.
   Craig made his postings, Gary Spain made soccer result postings, a
   few discussions about where to get bagpipe information and celtic
   music tour dates were announced.  Every now and then someone would have
   a question of interest, and every now and then the NI volcano erupted.
   These occasional periods of activity were typically short, always
   abusive, and died a little later once it became obvious that noone 
   was going to change their views.  They did help.  Some of us got 
   a little better educated, and calls for splitting were short and 
   usually opposed by many people not involved in the discussion.

But recently things have become a little different.  There are several
reasons IMNSHO.  1) Scottish politics esp British election and increasing
dissatisfaction with Act of Union.  It will eventully become less topical.
2) Greater Net access in Europe widening base. 3) cross posting.  4) Much
more bitter NI discussions.

Are there any solutions?  I suppose there are.  A split would be futile.
People who think there is a dearth of articles of interest to them are
probably wrong.  There are as many as there always were, but they are
hidden in the chaff.  If there aren't post more.

Other things that could be done.  Cross posting should be limited.  Not
only is volume increased, but politeness is lost.  I have had some nasty
flame wars relatively recently while cross-posting, and am trying to 
stop doing it.  I also think that discussions about british politics
that are not directly related to Scotland or Wales should just be posted
to s.c.b.  Also, the bitterness of flame wars lately has been quite a display
of pyrotechnics.  One start would be the simple rule that I have heard in
other groups, 'Praise in Public, criticise in private (i.e. e-mail)'.
If you don't like a posting, politely respond (and more bitterly by emial).
If you really hate a posting, ignore it, but respond by email.  But please,
don't call for censorship.  A suggestion by someone calling for Mark Holohan's
employer to censor him was the lowest thing I ever saw in this group, and I
broke all the rules I have listed above as a reaction. 

What has caused this conversion, you may all ask?  I don't know.  I just 
think the world would be a much better place, if people agree to disagree
when they don't agree, rather that attempting to portray people with 
another opinion as inferior.  Whatever you may all think of others opinions,
don't attack them by attacking the holder of the opinion- attack the opinion.
People are entitled to air their views as a right (I hope), not to give 
themselves enough rope, as I often see as an excuse for allowing people
with opposing views to air them.



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 
+ 'There was a  master come unto the earth, + Ulick Stafford, PP-ASEL       +
+    born in the holy land of Indiana,      + Dept of Chemical Engineering, +
+ in the mystical hills east of Fort Wayne'.+ Notre Dame, IN 46556          +
+                                           +    ulick@ndcheg.cheg.nd.edu   +
+      B'fhearr liom bheith ag eitilt.      +    ulick@bach.helios.nd.edu   +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++