roderick (03/13/83)
I have been reading this idiotic newsgroup for about as long as it has
existed, and I have yet to see more than a handful of worthwhile articles
appear. (And by this I mean that the garbage percentage is even higher here
than in all the other newsgroups. No, it's not a polite thing to say, is it?)
All of the "wonderful", "sensitive", "caring" techniques for dissuading would-be
suicides could be obtained from a single reading of any pamphlet on the subject
put out by your local mental health organization. If you really care, there
are also a number of good books available (no, I don't have the references --
go look them up yourself). But beware: Counselling is something that takes
skill, sensitivity and (sometimes) training.
The rest of the submissions fall into three categories:
(1) Drivel
(2) Offensiveness
(3) Black Humour
Categories (1) and (2) need and deserve little comment. Category (3) was
the original reason I began reading this newsgroup. At one time, some really
admirable examples of this neglected art were exhibited here. However, it seems
to have been bashed into nonexistence by the incessant spewing of (1)- and (2)-
authors. I am still trying to decide whether "rabbit!bimmler" falls into
category (2) or (3). Regardless of whichever it is, he/she/it now remains
as the only interesting artifact of this newsgroup.
If you have any flames, don't bother posting them to this newsgroup, send
them to me by mail. (You may by now have deduced that I will no longer read
this group -- very good.)
In a very poor mood indeed,
Rod Glover
U of Toronto
...!utzoo!utcsrgv!roderickruss (03/19/83)
#R:utcsrgv:-117200:kirk:25900005:000:39 kirk!russ Mar 18 09:22:00 1983 Good idea, Rod, I think I'll join you.
nyles (03/22/83)
#R:utcsrgv:-117200:zinfandel:11700019:000:412
zinfandel!nyles Mar 17 13:38:00 1983
Sir,
I have a suggestion. Instead of complaining, do something constructive.
There is already enough garbage on the net moaning about the sad state of
affairs in this newsgroup. Personally, I enjoy reading most everything in
this group.
So if you have anything original to contribute, please do so.
Lord Morgon
(decvax!sytek!zehntel!zinfandel!nyles)
Walnut Creek, CA 415/932-6900