From: dkgardin@undergrad.math.waterloo.edu (Dan Gardiner)
Subject: Whining
Keywords: [quality], [writing]
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 18:52:45 GMT

     Okay, what this post is about is all the whining that goes on in these 
newsgroups.  I agree that everybody should have their own opinions on the 
quality of the shows and I realize that not everybody will enjoy the same 
episodes, but I don't see the point of endlessly repeating your laments.  (No, I
don't like the whining, and I DO use the kill file).  Not to say there aren't 
some good points made, just that the articles often have too high a nasal pitch
for my tastes.

     Now then, I too believe that the writing quality of recent episodes has not
been first-rate, and definitely not as good as previous years.  I also believe 
that if this is what we have to look forward to in DS9 then we're in for a big
disappointment.  However, I have a suggestion about what we can do to get the
quality back into the show.  Why not start a letter-writing campaign to 
Paramount?  It may sound a bit hokey, but this same ploy saved ST:TOS from
cancellation TWICE when it first aired.  And I believe that we can do it now.
(You get a few million letters coming to you with the same complaint, see if it
doesn't affect your future decisions).  

     Unfortunately, I don't have addresses for e-mail or written letters.
(Could someone help me with that?  The address for someone high-up would be
extremely helpful, as would those of producers and/or writers).  I can however
give some of the same tips that was given out in the campaigns back in the 60's.
First, address the letters personally, and try to make them look official.  That
way theywon't simply get thrown out after a few are received.  Also, it is very
important to be polite.  People won't pay attention if all you do is scream and
curse.  Another thing is try to put some reason to your complaints and 
suggestions.  Don't simply say "I don't like Wesley" or "Worf sucks the big 
one".  Say why, explain the problem.  (Gawd, sounds like an English essay,
doesn't it?).  Something like "Second season had some of the best episodes 
because Melinda M. Snodgrass was storyline editor"  gives the person receiving
the letter a better idea of what is wrong.  

     Also important, write more than one letter.  Write many letters, but make
them different in some way.  Don't make 50 photocopies of one and then mail them
all.  (It's also important to mail them all separately.  Hey, if it's really
bothering your enjoyment of the show, isn't it worth the money?).  And tell your
friends and anyone else to write letters.  Get everybody you can doing this.  
Spread the information around.  The more we get doing this the better odds we
stand.  If I end up being the only one to write letters, well then the shows
aren't likely to get any better, DS9 will probably muddle along in the same
trend, but I will feel better because I did something about it, even if it 
didn't work.

     If you're this far then I'll assume that you're planning on doing this.  
All I can say now is good luck, good writing, and once again ask for these
addresses.  What an embarrassment for this plan to fail for lack of that one
little piece of information.



   D.K.G
   
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek,rec.arts.startrek.current,rec.arts.startrek.fandom