From: streynol@es.stat.ncsu.edu (STEPHEN TODD REYNOLDS)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: The Purpose of rec.org.mensa (?)
Date: 8 Apr 92 01:35:28 GMT
Article-I.D.: ncsu.1992Apr8.013528.4593
Reply-To: streynol@es.stat.ncsu.edu (STEPHEN TODD REYNOLDS)
Organization: North Carolina State University

As a  long  time  follower  of  this newsgroup,  I've  generally  supported
Mensa  as  an  organization for  those who  have proven  their intellectual
merit.  Since  the  inception of  rec.org.mensa, I've  watched  flame after
flame  with idle  curiosity.  Both the  supporters of Mensa and its critics
have  made  some  interesting  points  about  the  organization.   Although 
many  readers   have  complained  about  the  constant  criticism,  I  have
enjoyed  it.  After all, isn't the  ultimate goal of criticism improvement?  
Then  again, that  reflects the  type of  person I  am--the editorial pages
are the first part of the newspaper I read. 

Recently, however, the  group has taken  a turn for the  worse--things have
gotten  out of  hand!  From my  perspective, Mensa critic  Scott Tai posted
several  topically controversial  articles--that is, that Mensa is racially
discriminatory in its qualification procedures.  Mensa supporters Phil Hill
and Mike Steiner posted an even larger number of articles responding to Mr.
Tai's  articles.  Then, Mr. Tai posted a  series of articles  attempting to
respond to all of his critics.   This generated an  abnormally large amount
of  traffic.  Most  recently, Mr. Steiner  posted  numerous  articles which
contained questionable content--they were  nothing but flames, blasting Mr.
Tai.

Let's take a look at some of Mike Steiner's recent posts:

 1) What the fuck does that have to do with it, asshole?
 2) Bullshit, you fucking liar.
 3) You made it our business with your fucking lies and slander.
 4) Plagarist.  Get real, Floyd; you're bigotry jest makes me wanna puke.
 5) You are obscene--you have no redeeming social value, fuckface.
 6) I most certainly do, shit-for-brains.
 7) You have branded yourself as a hypocrite, a liar, and a racist bigot.
 8) No, but you do--even with your own writings, asshole.
 9) What the fuck do you think that intelligence is, asshole?
10) What's the matter, fuckface?
11) Your racial bigotry makes me puke, slimball.
12) Listen, you Nazi bastard!
13) Do the world a favor and shoot yourself in the ass
14) Tough shit, you cock-suckin, shit-eatin, mutha-fuckin, summ-bitch
    asshole. 
15) You are so full of bullshit that the fertilizer industry has declared
    you a national resource.
16) I have been meaning to ask you, when are your parents going to get
    married?
17) Oh yes, I almost forgot:  Yo mama cain't figger out which of those
    dozen guys who paid her five bucks that night is yo papa.  I wonder
    though, did she get her rabbies shots before or after?
18) He meant you, you dumb shit.
19) Actually, we were discussing Scott Tai--the moral degenerate
    sonofabitch motherfucking bastard hypocritical lair who lacks any
    vestige of ethics.

Although I  am not a  supporter of Mr. Tai's beliefs, I have to support him
here.  True  enough, his  articles are  usually filled  with  attitudes and
opinions, instead  of facts.  This  does not  mean that he should be flamed
like  this.  These  kinds  of  slurs  are  repulsive, at  least to  me, and
totally  uncalled for!  Mr. Steiner, I'd  suggest that you issue an apology
immediately, not just to  Mr. Tai, who  you have  unfairly insulted, but to
the  group, who has  had to  put up  with your  language and  narrow-minded
childish  behavior.  (This  isn't the  first time  I've seen Mr. Steiner go
on one of these rampages, either!)  Despite a person's opinions, we are all
human, and  should be  treated with  common respect.  If  nothing else, Mr. 
Tai's  articles  aren't  of  this tone, and only  contain his  feelings and
beliefs, not insults.  I'm not  trying to defend Mr. Tai--just his right to
express  himself.  Mr. Steiner:  If you  can't say  something nice..... get
out of  here, and  take your foul  language with you.  You're  not helping,
and yes, you are hurting, not just yourself and Mr. Tai, but Mensa's image.

Peace,

STEVE REYNOLDS
JR, Applied Mathematics