From: joan@med.unc.edu (Joan Shields)
Subject: For newbies (was:Re: Project B.F.D. (was: An apology))
Organization: UNC-CH School of Medicine
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 22:24:46 GMT

My turn to comment since I seem to have found myself somehow included in
this clique of rab snobs (or is it snots).  Personally, I wouldn't join
any clique that would have me for a member - in fact, I usually end up
being tossed out of cliques after I've expressed an opinion or two.
Anyway, after three years of reading this group and about two and a half of
posting regularly (and getting royally flamed from time to time) I think I
can comment on the nature of this group.  Or, better put, I am going to
comment on the nature of this group whether anyone likes it or not - so
there, <rasberry>.

In this group we discuss (or somebody discusses) books, authors,
publishing houses, censorship, writing styles, genres, philosophies of
writing, of reading, of storytelling.  We talk about best-sellers,
classics (real and pseudo), cookbooks, left-wing and right-wing
manifestos, pure trash, biographies, gardening books, sailing books, art
books.  In other words, we talk about a lot of things centered around, amid,
and among books.  We have also been known to talk about things completely
outside the realm of books (no matter how tangled some of us get trying to
tie a particular thread idea into or onto a book).  Apparently this
offends some people (I've rarely been chastised via e-mail when I've
wandered off the path - more often than not the comments have been
positive and friendly), I'm sorry if it does.  The fact is that it has
always offended some people and probably always will.  I don't mind being
offended - I need to be offended from time to time, makes me think.  Some
of these wanderings end up being exercises in ego-stroking and some of
them end up dying a slow painful death that lasts for weeks.  Some of them
become very entertaining and make people all over the world almost swallow
their pen caps and have giggle fits and some of them, in fact, quite a few
of them, wander back onto the path of books and become very interesting
discussions "appropriate" for rec.arts.books.  

For the newcomers, those afraid of posting for fear they will be pounced
upon, I say STAND UP!  Jump into the breach and join the rest of us poor
slobs.  You may emerge a little battered, a few bruises here and there,
maybe even a black eye but oh, what you will have learned!  Since getting
into a few frays here and there I have found that I am much better at
arguing a point, better at using words to say what I really mean, a much
better wit, and much better read **.  Some of these assholes and bastards
will force you to think about what you really mean and how you really feel.
You may even discover (as I have and still do) that they're not all
assholes and bastards - that some of them are fairly pleasant once you get
to know them.  Either way, if they get you to think, I mean to really
think about things such as books and ideas and everything else - well, what
more could you want?  

So, go for it.  If you get pounced on well, for one: at least someone
has bothered to read your post and thought enough to comment on it,
and two: pounce back if you think you have a point.  It's even better and
you'll be bound to get more support if you present your point clearly and
thoughtfully.  I can at least appreciate a good arguement, whether or not
I necessarily agree with the point taken.


Yours in wet fishes and ballroom waltzes,

Joan

** I am, however, not much better at spelling :)