[net.misc] net.jokes.q shafted someone

presley (07/03/82)

At mhux[ahmtv] I've been forwarding net.jokes.q and net.jokes.limericks
but haven't allowed saving of those newsgroups on our machines.  The
non-saving was done by request of the system administrators; I let
forwarding to continue because some system down the line may have wanted
to see them.

It didn't bother me (and the powers that be) so long as sick "humor"
(sic) was kept in its own newsgroups.  You might say that peace was kept
in the realm.  Then philabs!guest deliberately perverted the purpose of
net.jokes.d by his racist comments in his McDonald's piece, followed by
erewhon.guest's childish actions in creating net.filth.  Undoubtedly
this was done to provoke and show us how smart he is.  But how much can
you expect from someone who uses a guest login and doesn't sign the
article?

If we don't watch it, those who control the purse strings are going to
get enough complaints to decide to do something about it.  At a minimum
they could decide to limit what our machines get; at worst, they may
decide (in our case, anyway) to have BTL disassociate itself from
USENET.  Is this worth letting a few irresponsible individuals get their
jollies?  [That's a rhetorical question; I don't care to get into
debates about First Amendment rights, etc.]

So this is an appeal to the users of netnews --- netnews is a useful and
an enjoyable system.  Be responsible when using the system so as not to
ruin it for the rest of us.

	Joe Presley - Bell Labs Murray Hill - mhux[ahmtv]!presley

jcr (07/04/82)

Will everyone please read Joe Presley's article about users
responsibilties on USENET , and try to avoid intentional
or potentially damaging remarks about certain ethnic groups !!

wagner (07/05/82)

Maybe I missed something, but I dont understand why limericks got it in the
neck from the same stroke that hit net.jokes.q.

Michael Wagner, UTCS