[mod.ber] net.suicide

ber@gummo.UUCP (ber) (02/03/84)

			Summary of net.suicide

		     Jan. 1, 1984 - Jan 31, 1984

				by

			      Chuck F.

	After several months of inactivity, net.suicide once again
	sprang to life as mr. mincemeat made a "bold" bid for control
	of the newsgroup.  Historically, this newsgroup has always
	benefitted from authoritarian direction; both the quantity and
	quality of submissions increase discernably.  However, experienced
	readers agree that mr. mincemeat lacks the charisma
	and steely discipline required for leadership.  While comparisons
	with rabbit!bimmler inevitably surface, it is clear that Ms.
	Bimmler's ability to command respect (arising equally from admiration
	and fear) is sadly lacking on both counts in mr. mincemeat's
	indisputable makeup.  In this context, mr. mincemeat's pathetic
	contributions can be seen as nothing more than, so to speak,
	misdirected spray, perhaps the result of some tragic
	physical deformity.  Subscribers to the newsgroup trust that
	next time he will at least raise the lid.

	Other topics of importance in net.suicide included a few bits of
	gossippy history from Bob Lied, a request to jj to reactivate
	Bimmler's account on rabbit, and several exceedingly boring
	attempts at amateur psychoanalysis.  Our close friend, Gene
	Spafford, submitted a long, impassioned, well-reasoned and
	cleverly written article that seemed to be about nothing in
	particular.  Many suspect he is in cahoots with mincemeat.

	Well, that's it until next time.  Remember, in net.suicide,
	no news is good news.

ber@gummo.UUCP (ber) (03/02/84)

			Summary of net.suicide

			   2/1/84 - 3/1/84

			    submitted by

			     cbosgd!ccf



	Activity has been light this month.

	There was an impassioned and closely reasoned article by
	nsc!chuqui attempting to show that suicide is not heroic
	but cowardly, as if these were the choices.  (Fundamentally,
	suicide is a mode of humor, and anyone who fails to grasp
	that will always fail to analyze it correctly.  Perhaps
	this is why nsc!chuqui makes no progress beyond his premises.)

	There was a puzzling note from the ubiquitous rabbit!jj
	wherein he evidently claimed to be me.  Those who enjoy
	reading about adolescence may find it interesting.

	Finally, there was a poem submitted by stolaf!petersoa,
	written by a teen-age suicide (poets are so young these
	days!).  Those who enjoy reading about adolescence may
	find it interesting.  I think most will tend to side with
	the teacher on this one, as far as the situation is
	explained.  There ARE atandards, after all.  What if
	everybody drove on whatever side of the road they liked,
	with no respect for the feelings of those who follow the
	rules, or spelled words any old way that seemed convenient,
	like the British?

	Looking forward to lighter activity in March, as more of
	us can get outside.

	Nothing from mincemeat.

ber@gummo.UUCP (ber) (03/31/84)

net.suicide Summary March 1 - March 31 by cbosgd!ccf

	There was quite a bit of discussion so far this month.

	The romantic nsc!chuqui reaffirmed his belief that suicide must
	be analyzed along the axis cowardly/heroic, and thoughtfully
	wished for the swift destruction of those who are so stupid
	as to disagree with him.  Evidently nsc!chuqui has read a lot
	of dog stories.

	proper!gam, no fan of dog stories, has consulted his
	introductory psych text and announced his impatience with any
	ideas not in line with the excellent psychomedical reductions
	he found there.  (Why, it is depression that causes suicide,
	of course!  When you admit that, you can have your shoelaces
	back.  There aren't many surprises in psychology.)

	The poet mincemeat, returning from a brief absence, threw
	nsc!chuqui into snarling confusion by appearing in several
	places at once (this is why you never want to let a poet use
	your bathroom), showing that human motivation is not necessarily
	limited by dog stories.  nsc!chuqui withdrew to his cage,
	sulking.  proper!gam is taking the matter under advisement.

	gatech!spaf, fisher!bae, and shark!hutch expressed pleasure
	at the quality of the net.suicide reviews.

	Finally, others too numerous to mention submitted thoughts
	of no interest to readers of these excellent summaries.