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The problem with these off-topic, political threads...
On Tue, 2 Sep 2003 21:35:39 -0400, "Gary Warner" wrote:
- The "bar room" thing is just an anology, don't try to carry it too far. But it's the analogy that is most commonly used in this context. - The discussions are not just pointless. They show me how others think. Even when I disagree, I learn something. That's true--and my whole point is that one may learn enough about another person to view him with contempt. Reasoned--even heated--debate is just fine; it's energizing and often educational for both sides. But when the "debate" turns so quickly to gratuitous insults--and it invariably does--it says far too much about the combatants that one might like to know. Characterizing a "liberal" as a limp-wristed, light-in-the-loafers faggot; or a "conservative" as a fascist. Or displaying black-and-white, bigoted thinking--on *either* side of an argument. For me, it's just too much information--and I personally find it difficult to separate often valuable information (which is often scarce) from someone's despicable character traits, regardless of how his politics might play out. - If you dont' want to read the threads, don't. If you can't help yourself from "slowing down and gawking" don't blame others, help yourself. I'm quite able to set filters--even when the subject line is a moving target. But my concerns are not for my own sensibilities; rather, they are for the impression made on people subscribing for the first time. And the content--quality and quantity--in rec.boats is far less appealing now than it was, say, two years ago. - I disagree that there is little or no boating value here. Post a boating story and plenty of people will comment or sympathize. Post a boating or boat question and there will be very helpful hints, tips, information, web-links, stories of similar experience, etc., etc. In the Pot-Kettel-Black department: why not mark your off topic post with "OT:" ?? Yes, the subject is pretty self-explanitory, but it is convention to mark subjects with "OT:" so people can easily filter for them. As we've already discussed, many newsreaders strip out the OT: on follow-ups. OE is the most widely used newsreader here, and it behaves that way. Any Usenet newsgroup is a do-it-yourself deal. I just don't think the deal is being done as well as it should be. Joe Parsons |
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