dxa@bentley.UUCP (DR Anolick) (09/19/84)
<The line-eater is dead, but will probably return to haunt us again!>
I've been reading the net for about a month now, but this is
my first posting, so I hope I don't break any netiquette
rules.
I have been disturbed by Michael N. Washington's signature.
This is not a personal attack on Michael, I've enjoyed
reading his postings. However, I believe that the phrase,
"DEATH TO ALL ZAEON PIGS!" is inappropriate for this net.
The phrase in question comes from the episode which examines
the Nazi Regime, and the message of the episode is that
absolute power corrupts absolutely. The phrase shows the
negative effect of that absolute power.
The episode was a good one, maybe the problem is that when
the phrase is taken out of context, you lose the message of
the episode. When reading the phrase, my perception is that
it is glorifying a bigoted ideal. (Again, I don't accuse
Michael of being a bigot, I'm just stating what my gut
reaction is when I read the phrase.) It seems to me that
since this net celebrates the positive attitude of Star
Trek, that a negative statement such as this phrase is not
appropriate. Let me add, that I am not unbiased in my
feelings. Being a Jew, the ideal behind this phrase has an
added significance to me.
I'd like to see some discussion of this on the net. Again,
I am not attacking Michael, I doubt that he means to offend
anyone with his signature. Because of human diversity, and
since the net is so large, I'm sure every posting offends
someone, somewhere. But I'd like to see some discussion of
this signature. Am I over sensative due to my bias? Or do
others agree, that when taken out of context, this phrase is
not a positive Star Trek statement?
Thanks in advance for any _thoughtful_ responses.
DROYAN ..ihnp4!bentley!dxa
(David ROY ANolick)rjnoe@ihlts.UUCP (Roger Noe) (09/19/84)
First off, I think David did a very good job of raising a thoughtful issue and observing good netiquette. Such consideration should be commended. > the message of the episode [Patterns of Force] is that > absolute power corrupts absolutely. The phrase shows the > negative effect of that absolute power. I have to disagree with that. The real message of the episode is that those who fail to learn from history (in this case John Gill, a history professor) are doomed to repeat past mistakes. > When reading the phrase, my perception is that it is glorifying > a bigoted ideal. Am I over sensative due to my bias? Or do > others agree, that when taken out of context, this phrase is > not a positive Star Trek statement? > DROYAN ..ihnp4!bentley!dxa I agree both ways. You are probably a little sensitive because of personal feelings but the statement IS very negative, taken out of context. The point to remember is that most readers of this newsgroup cannot take the quote out of context, because they remember the episode, what happened to the Nazis and what happened to Melakon and his regime. It disturbed me a bit, too, the first time I read it, but I have no rational objection to using a quote of any sort in one's signature line. -- "It's only by NOT taking the human race seriously that I retain what fragments of my once considerable mental powers I still possess." Roger Noe ihnp4!ihlts!rjnoe
friedman@uiucdcs.UUCP (09/20/84)
> I have been disturbed by Michael N. Washington's signature. > This is not a personal attack on Michael, I've enjoyed > reading his postings. However, I believe that the phrase, > "DEATH TO ALL ZAEON PIGS!" is inappropriate for this net. I have to agree that I am still startled every time I see that signature line. I also do not intend a personal attack of Michael Washington. But I have often wondered what is his point in including this quotation in his signature. (I'm hoping he'll tell us.) Since the line suggests racial bigotry against a fictional race, it comes out meaningless to me -- and yet somewhat disturbing.
jim@randvax.UUCP (Jim Gillogly) (09/20/84)
---- Well, yes, I do think you're a little oversensitive (albeit understandably so). I just took the quotation as a bit of black humor, like "Nuke the whales" or the anti-"I <heart> <foo>" bumper sticker that reads "I <club symbol from playing card> baby seals." All unworthy sentiments, of course... Jim Gillogly "Why didn't you say so? All you had to do was explain it to me!" (Bela Oxmix)