RE: HARP-L Digest V94

[G.Jackson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

PAUL WROTE:

> 
> REGARDING THE ADDITION OF A NEWSGROUP INTERFACE TO THIS LIST:
> 
> I truly do not see why people think that opening a newsgroup interface is
> gonna be the end to the friendly goings-on here.  


I Basically agree with all you say Paul, However............



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> 
> But I mean really, who are you gonna offend by talking
> about harps?  I mean, some ...abortion or ...muslim or ...racism or
> ...christians or ...feminism -type groups are *much* more likely to
> draw in antagonists than ....harp ones, don't you think?
> 
There will ALWAYS be one idiot who can get on their high horse.

> My point is, though, that no matter how hard I try, I can't see some 
> news.drifter happening upon rec.music.harp or whatever it will be and 
> saying, "Hey, I think I'll post a flame-invoking article... 
> a' la subject line: HOHNER SPECIAL-20'S SUCK EGGS"  For one thing it's
> just not the type of newsgroup to attract that kind of person, and for 
> another, he's not gonna even know to try and bash Special-20's!  Oh, sure,
> he could bash harmonicas in general, true.  If no one takes the bait,
> we're rid of the moron in no time.  But seriously, I don't think it'll
> ever happen.
> 

Can I give just one example of what can happen, as it happened to me?

Some of you will read the Guitar newsgroups and remember this from just
before Christmas.

I say a post on the group mentioning the use of WD40 as a substitute for 
"Fast Fret" (tm) This is stuff some people put on their fingers before
Playing.

With the best of intentions and trying to maybe help prevent someone from
making them selves poorly with WD40 I posted a warning (very politely).
I am a chemical saftey officer among other jobs on our Dept.
So I mentioned the possible effects of toxicicty from organic compounds
over a period of time. (These can lead to cancer, cell muation, deformed
offspring,etc, etc. etc.)

The result was someone who's SIG. file stated him as a research Prof. in
a Chemistry Dept. In the U.S.A.  A person I would have thought should
have behaved in a more civilised and responsible way flaming me in a
very insulting way.

His reply ran along the lines (and SHOUTING) that is all in large case,
"I probably didn't know anything at all, who was I anyway, why don't I 
go away, shut up, get a life etc".

I don't reply to flames on principle. After all, a fire dies down faster
if it is NOT fanned!
And anyway, I don't put my letters after my name on the NET, and if you
don't know a person, you are not intitled to make remarks about their
ability/knowledge. 

As it happened, a few lovely people E-Mailed me saying that they had
written to this chap and smacked his hands on my behalf, and for the 
good of the group. This restored my faith in human nature a little.

The other sort of thing that happens (ALL THE DAMN TIME TOO!) is that
people seem to be offended by other peoples bad typing and spelling.
This evokes all sorts of nasty biggoted letters around the world, and
for no good reason to my mind.

You get the, "why don't you learn to spell/type before you use a
computer, you butt head"? and "Why are you not still at school if you
can't spell jerk"? responses.

As long as we understand the infomation being passed, I don't personally
see what it matters, none of use are perfect golden beings anyway,

> Sorry to ramble -- I just think folks are being a lot more paranoid than 
> is called for.  It's not a *totally* cruel world out there.
> 

No it is not totaly cruel out there, but a lot of folk see to only be 
happy if they can get off on upsetting people.

And by the way, in some newsgropups a reply like mine (or yours for that)
would either:

A) Cause a flamewar.
B) Be considered a flame and thus start a flame war. (my dads bigger 
	than your dad kind of stuff)
C) Occupy bandwith for so long that the reall purpose of the group gets
	submerged and lost for sometimes weeks.

I've given up on several groups because the immature attitude of a few
posters leads to the ruination of a group. Everyone starts to defend
their posts and NET MADNESS rules O.K.

SO don't take offence Paul, (a gate yes, a fence no) this is just intended
to explain why some of us have certain reservations about some things.
It is far to easy for ALL of us to loose sight of our daily doings.

A HUGE,GREAT, BLODYO BIG SMILLY FACE FOLLOWS.  :-)

All the best.
Gordon