fisher@dssdev.DEC (Gerry Fisher --- Terminally Inane) (01/11/86)
Folks,
Here is a copy of a letter that I circulated internally concerning Ken Arndt
postings:
"...I think that we
spend so much time arguing about the inanities of Ken's arguments that we
have neglected the fact that he has gotten quite *good* at what he does.
Ken has an excellent talent for using thinly disguised humor to tear people
to shreads.
For instance, I showed his posting to a gay friend of mine. He and I laughed
as he read through the posting. After my friend was finished, he said, "I
suppose it's because this is the first time I have read his postings, but I
think that that posting is very funny." He failed to see the daggers sticking
out of his own back.
In a way, Ken is doing brilliantly homophobic work. He writes articles that
are very funny on the surface, that contain no solid points for detractors to
address, that make constant references to gay people as friends, that seemingly
recriminate himself for his insensitivity, all the while reinforcing
stereotypical gay myths and trivializing hatred of gay/lesbian people.
I don't think that I should seriously respond to Ken, personally or on the NET.
However, I am concerned. How many people laugh at Ken while
unconsciously internalizing his homophobia. I really do believe that
he is doing harm to our brothers and sisters on the NET. I'm not sure
what to do.
--Ger"
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Consequently, in order to alleviate tension and anxiety caused by
Ken's postings, I have decided to form a group called KenWatch. This
group is modeled after the DukakisWatch program instituted by the Gay and
Lesbian Defense League in Boston, Massachusetts, used to remind
Governor Dukakis of his homophobic foster care policy. KenWatch will
post after every Arndt posting. He will not be able to reach an
audience without our reply.
I think that this can be a way to have some fun, and at the same time,
alert new or overly sensitive readers to the dangers of Ken Arndt's
postings.
I posted a reply to an Arndt posting about six months ago and I
received a reply to the following effect, "thanks for replying to
Ken's posting. You eased a lot of my anxiety created by his posting." I
think that it will help MOTSS readers to know that we do *not* condone
or *trivialize* Ken's postings.
The following posting is the first volume of KenWatch. Enjoy!
Gerry Fisher
...decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-dssdev!fisher
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Nashua, NH: Where the men are men, and the sheep are nervous.