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Date:         Fri, 2 Oct 1992 21:39:00 EDT
From:         SAM DERRIDA <N567126@NCSUADM.ACS.NCSU.EDU>
Subject:      Deconstructing the Feud
Comments: To: English Language Discussion Group <words-l@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>

> Being, as I am, a habitual *lurker* on this list, and seeing, as
> I do, that this Family Feud game has created such a divisive
> atmosphere on a hitherto congenial and amicable list of net-friends,
> I feel compelled to offer my own humble analysis of the events of
> the past several weeks, if of course, you will all @bear with me@.
.
> This conflict began several weeks ago when -ggs decided, after
> breakfasting at the McDonalds restaurant near his place of
> employment and seeing an episode of the Family Feud on television,
> to propose a similar game on the words-l list.  Many posters
> responded over the next few days, offering their opinions about
> which posters were the "most" such-and-such.  Everyone seemed to
> be enjoying the game until it suddenly became obvious, on the day
> of the game deadline, that -ggs was intending to post the results
> not only of the final round of voting, but of the initial survey.
.
> A number of posters became very abusive of -ggs, making direct
> attacks on his personality and sense of humor, and others became
> genuinely concerned that someone would be hurt by these proceedings.
> --ggs, meanwhile, claimed that the game had taken on a life of its
> own and could not be stopped.  Consequently, he posted the results
> and, a day later, the winners of the contest.  The aftermath of
> the game has been a series of statements by the detractors and
> supporters of the Game Show Host, including some very unpleasant
> ad hominem attacts on -ggs and some very pleasant responses from
> posters who enjoyed the game.
.
>    Some of the notable characteristics of the words-l list that
> have become evident in the development of this conflict are:
>    1)  the concern that many wordslers have for the feelings of
>        their wordsler companions.
>    2)  the enjoyment that some wordslers derive  from being
>        recognized publicly as being irritating or confusing or
>        boring.
>    3)  the concern that some wordslers have for being mistaken
>        for someone who drives a car or has a pet.
>    4)  the relationship between political stance and attitude
>        toward the game itself, as the majority of the game's
>        detractors are +self-confessed+ reactionaries or
>        conservatives, and the majority of the game's supporters
>        are +self-proclaimed+ pinko liberals, with the sole
>        exception of -abh, who seems to be a +case+ unto herself.
>     5) a general attitude prevalent among some wordslers that
>        the behavior of other wordslers should be +policed+ in
>        some way and that the misfits should find another
>        site for their marginally socialized list personnae.
.
>  My general observations and recommendations are:
.
>      1) that the episode has been a stimulus to activity on a
>         previously moribund list.
>      2) that a good time has been had by all, whether they
>         are aware of it or not.
>      3) that the personal attributes of the personable,
>         self-proclaimed Game Show Host cease to be a subject
>         of discussion so that he may come out of his +closet+.
>      4) that all posters return to their prior stance of
>         doing unto others as they would have them do unto them.
>      5) that all wordslers repeat together, in unision, simultaneously,
>         the words:  "Well, that was fun.  What do we do now?" and
>         wait for the next thing to happen.
.
> It has been a pleasure to serve you.
.
  --Sam Derrida
  Professor of Textual and Intertextual Analysis
  Hampton Shores Community College and Technical Institute
  Hampton Shorestown, South Dakota  87564-8342
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