funny@looking.UUCP (Funny Guy) (12/01/88)
As you can see, Johnathan Richmond took the RHF debate to the press. His attempt to do so caused the article you just saw, which among other things, will put pressure on the University of Waterloo administration to cut not just rec.humor.funny but all the non-technical groups from this region of the net. This would include many groups Mr. Richmond did not intend, such as soc.culture.jewish! What the University does is of course, up to them. If you wish to express an opinion, you can mail one, phone one, fax one or, though a mailbox I have set up, EMAIL one. Email will of course be easiest for you, but I suspect that the other media might be more impressive. It's up to your. I will forward the contents of the mailbox record@looking.UUCP to their editors. You MUST follow certain rules if you wish your letter to be considered an official letter to the editor, as it will not be signed. I would ask people in K-W to use regular postal mail if they can. =================================== Title the letter "LETTER TO THE EDITOR" Mark the letter "c/o Ross Weichel" Make the salutation: "To the Editor:" Keep the letter short, and to the point. And, too be honest, don't write like most people do to the net. Sign your letter with your full name, and give your address and some phone numbers where you can be reached. They will want to verify what they print as real. You can reply to this message, and it will go to record@looking.UUCP, not to me. Be warned, however, that the mail you send will not be private. (As a letter to the editor, that's not surprising.) ===================================== If you wish to FAX a letter, the FAX number is: 1-519-894-3912 If you wish to telephone, the number is 1-519-894-2231. I am not sure how phone calls are counted. If you wish to write with regular mail, use: The Editor c/o Ross Weichel Kitchener Waterloo Record 255 Fairway Rd. Kitchener, ON N2G 4E5 Canada ====================================== I can't tell you what to say, or whether to support me or not. What I want is to show them that they have seriously misrepresented the nature of the affair, and the level of public opinion amongst those who have seen the full context of the matter. Don't be abusive -- be reasoned, whether for or against me. They are a medium sized large paper, with circulation of about 90,000. (That's actually fairly big for a daily.) I hope that you will tell them that you do not feel I was promoting racism, and that you do not feel I am racist in any way. That's up to you. My own detailed comments will follow when I'm a tad calmer. Don't reply to me right away, or rush to offer me a feed. I am sure that these sort of things can be dealt with if they arise. I still believe they will not. And if you really want to get JEDR and Matt Crawford angry, order the RHF jokebook! I'm busy shipping them out right now -- thanks to all who did ask for a copy. ***Remember, replies to this message go to record@looking.UUCP.*** Looking talks to math.waterloo.edu (watmath) and "att", but they will only forward from within AT&T. -- The rec.humor.funny fascist. (Thanks to whoever gave me that title!)
cjosta@taux01.UUCP (Jonathan Sweedler) (12/02/88)
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
c/o Ross Weichel
To the Editor:
I think the current situation of the rec.humor.funny newsgroup has come
to a sad state of affairs. I have been reading this newsgroup for
almost a year now, and I have enjoyed it very much. It is a shame that
because a small minority of people have gotten upset at a FEW of the
jokes, the entire newsgroup should be stopped (I haven't seen a joke in
a couple of weeks) and Brad Templeton should be put through such
needless harassment.
I am Jewish and am currently living in Israel and to tell you the
truth, when I read the joke that started this uproar, I didn't even bat
an eye. The point of rec.humor.funny is to be funny. Sometimes it is,
and sometimes it isn't. I respect people's opinions when they feel
something is not funny, but they must remember that the jokes posted in
this newsgroup are just that. Brad did apologize when he realized that
the timing of the joke (posted near the anniversary of Kristalnacht)
was not what it might have been. Those people who were offended should
have accepted his apology. I think Brad has been very responsible
during this whole ordeal.
I also feel that the newspaper article that I read was rather
mis-representative of the facts. I have been following the situation
since the offending joke was posted and I feel that your article tends
to highlight certain facts and ignore others (and get some wrong as
well), thus adding to the mood of hysteria.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Sweedler
National Semiconductor (Israel)
POB 3007
Herzlia 46104
ISRAEL
phone: +972-52-522217
--
Jonathan Sweedler === National Semiconductor Israel
UUCP: ...!{amdahl,hplabs,decwrl}!nsc!taux01!cjosta
Domain: cjosta@taux01.nsc.comMICHAEL@MAINE (12/02/88)
P.O. Box 136
Orono, ME 04473
(207) 827-6309
(207) 581-3510
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
c/o Ross Weichel
To the Editor:
I am writing this letter in support of Brad Templeton. I too read the
joke that started all of this controversy and while I am not rascist and do
not condone rascist attitudes, I found the joke to be quite amusing.
In evaluating humor of this kind, it is important to remember that we
are indeed talking about humor. What we read is not to be taken in a serious
vein; we must be prepared to laugh at ourselves and others without becoming
too entrenched in our own righteous indignation.
When I read the joke in question (the Scotsman and the Jew joke) I did not
think to myself "serves the Jew right" or any other hateful sentiment. I
laughed at the idea that any two people could be so stuck on money that they
would do to each other what the Scotsman and the Jew did. The words "Scotsman"
and "Jew" were used as convenient symbols to carry the idea. They were not used
as labels to cast Scots and Jews in a bad light.
I wonder perhaps if Jonathan Richmond has not become so embroiled in his
own desire to control the thoughts of others that he has lost the ability to
laugh, even a little bit, at himself. I have read and heard many jokes about
Yuppies that do not portray them favorably and I was amused by these jokes,
even though I consider that label to apply to myself. I think perhaps the world
would be a better place if we all could learn to laugh at ourselves as well as
others.
Sincerely,
Michael Thayer Johnson
#! rnews murthy@voltron.SRC.Honeywell.COM (Madhu Murthy) (12/03/88)
LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
c/o Ross Weichel
To the Editor:
Seriousness has destroyed enough of this world and there is no more
need to perpetuate any more of it. That some individual (on the network)
takes offense (and hurt etc) at a joke shows his/her psychological
diseases. As editors, instead of pandering to paranoias of imbalanced
people thereby perpetuating misery, give the world the ability to laugh
unconditionally. Psychological hurt is the only real ghost I know.
Parents at times show anger towards kids without feeling angry.
Likewise you can laugh at racist jokes without feeling racist. By ruling
out this possibility you will have shown your mediocre existence. Come on.
Laugh with us.
I DO NOT find any racism on part of the contributors/moderator or me. No
races have been singled out. Infact the ridiculousness of races is
laughed at (that is not puporse of the bulletin board. It is a mere side
effect). That is the "jews" of the story.
Publish this letter as readily as you did the earlier letter O'editor!
Sincere but not serious. Madhu Murthy.
tel: 612-782-7309(o)
addr:
631 University Ave,
Minneapolis, MN55413