I first came to Usenet (ARBR) several years ago where I encountered Tom
Sherman. Most of what I learned about Usenet I learned from him. I learned
to be meticulous in the form of my posts and not to fear an argument. I
look
back on those days as ones of pure innocence. I even once subscribed to
his
view that an unmoderated newsgroup was a form of paradise. Alas, things
have
really changed for me, and not for the better either.
I have lost my innocence and I do not blame TS anymore for that than I do
anyone else. It is simply the nature of the beast of Usenet. It is no
paradise and never was. The fact that it is not moderated is its fatal
flaw.
The only ones who can ever be happy on Usenet are types like TS and
myself.
We are contentious and not altogether pleasant. If you don't like it, then
get off of Usenet and find yourself a moderated forum.
I have now grown quite expert at what I do on Usenet. I fear no one and am
able and willing to take on anyone. But I think I was happier in my long
lost innocent days. How wise are we to gain knowledge if we lose happiness
in the process? A good question which has plagued mankind down through the
ages.
But there is no going back. We are stuck in the present. The Harry Brogan
episode is a good illustration of what is wrong with Usenet. What we are
witnessing here is the playing out of our human natures. We cannot fix
what
is wrong with us and are fated to be forever frustrated.
I have known types like Harry Brogan all of my life. I know what they are
like and they are basically good souls. But there is something about
Usenet
which brings out the devil in us. I think it is the lack of any face to
face contact. It is too bad, but that is the way it is.
The bottom-line is NOT to take Usenet seriously. We are not doing any real
communicating here. Instead what we are doing is attempting to express our
personalities. And when we don't get the feedback we expect, we are
annoyed.
It is all part of the human dilemma. Everyone needs to lighten up. That is
as good as it can ever get.
Regards,
Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota
