[sci.philosophy.tech] Topics - Don't restrict them too much - please !

linda@brueer.UUCP (06/02/87)

In article <1411@ubc-cs.UUCP> andrews@ubc-cs.UUCP (Jamie Andrews) writes:
>In article <318@phoenix.PRINCETON.EDU> kpmancus@phoenix.UUCP (Keith P. Mancus) writes:
>>  I have been reading some of Ayn Rand's writings lately, and while I don't
>>agree 100%, she generally seems to make sense.....
>
>
>
>     NO, MASSA!  NO, NO!!!  NO Ayn Rand discussions on this newsgroup!
>
>
>
>     *****PLEASE***** this is for technical discussions on the
>philosophy of science and mathematics!!!!!  If *that woman* has

Why not PHILOSOPHICAL discussions on the technology of science and 
mathematics.

>ever discussed such topics, feel free to post her thoughts on
>that... otherwise, DON'T post something about philosophy or
>pseudo-philosophy or politico-philosophy here just because it
>has the word "philosophy" in the newsgroup name.
>
Its alright for those of you that receive the other philosophy related
newsgroups but WE DONT. I'm really glad that discussions have broken out in
a newsgroup that we get. Being new to philosophy I've never heard of Ayn
Rand and will be interested in discussions of her ideas. The problem
will be in finding the time to read them.

Philosophy can cover such a huge universe :-) that I'm sure the topics can
always be related to science and mathematics if we try hard enough.

Lets make sure the subject line and keywords really do let people know what
we are talking about and then would be flamers can shut their eyes to
the horrors.

>in fear & trembling for the future of the newsgroup,
I understand the fear and trembling and, as always ,totally irrelevant
discussions should expect the abuse they receive.

This looks as if it will be a really interesting newsgroup providing we
cut out the waffle.

As bill%isl.stanford.edu would say

"Stay cool folks, you're missing something."


-- 
Linda.

'Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without
losing your temper or your self-confidence.'

*==============================================================================*
* Linda Birmingham.              |                                             *
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tedrick@ernie.Berkeley.EDU.UUCP (06/04/87)

>>     *****PLEASE***** this is for technical discussions on the
>>philosophy of science and mathematics!!!!!  

>Why not PHILOSOPHICAL discussions on the technology of science and 
>mathematics.

Because this group is for technical discussions on the philosophy of
science and mathematics. A lot of time and effort went into creating
this group. If you weren't around when the struggle was going on
you probably can't appreciate what a hassle we went through.

>>... otherwise, DON'T post something about philosophy or
>>pseudo-philosophy or politico-philosophy here just because it
>>has the word "philosophy" in the newsgroup name.

>Its alright for those of you that receive the other philosophy related
>newsgroups but WE DONT.

That does not justify ruining a group such as this by posting
innapropriate material. Linda, do you want to take the responsibility
for ruining this group, like previous philosophy groups have
been ruined?

When posting to a group one should try to stick to topics appropriate
to that group.

>>in fear & trembling for the future of the newsgroup,

>I understand the fear and trembling

With all due respect, no, you don't understand.

laura@hoptoad.UUCP (06/05/87)

In article <530@brueer.ee.brunel.ac.uk> linda@ee.brunel.ac.uk (Linda Birmingham) writes:
>Why not PHILOSOPHICAL discussions on the technology of science and 
>mathematics.

Because there already exists talk.philosophy.misc.

>Its alright for those of you that receive the other philosophy related
>newsgroups but WE DONT. I'm really glad that discussions have broken out in
>a newsgroup that we get. Being new to philosophy I've never heard of Ayn
>Rand and will be interested in discussions of her ideas. The problem
>will be in finding the time to read them.

I like Rand.  I read Rand.  If you are interested in Rand, you should read
*The Virtue of Selfishness*.  I am going to be very selfish here.  I don't
care about your problem of not getting the other philosophy related 
newsgroups.  My problem is wading through all the philosophy related
newsgroups.  Those people who decided that they were interested in the
history and philosophy of science and technology went and created this
newsgroup to fix *their* problem.  Now you need to fix yours, but if
you dump a lot of other philosophy into this newsgroup, I am going
to create sci.history.sci.and.technology -- (damn it!  I still think
that this newsgroup is misnamed) and then I am going to rm group this
newsgroup in a fit of pique.

What you need is to have talk.philosophy.* gatewayed to your machine. I
don't know the political problems that you face in getting this.  Perhaps
it would be easier to have a Europe-Only discussion group for philosophy.
In any case, it is your problem -- go to it.  Our problem is to keep
inappropriate discussions from cropping up here.

Yours sincerely,
Laura Creighton
sci.philosophy.tech thought police

-- 
(C) Copyright 1987 Laura Creighton - you may redistribute only if your 
    recipients may.

	``One must pay dearly for immortality:  one has to die several
	times while alive.'' -- Nietzsche

Laura Creighton	
ihnp4!hoptoad!laura  utzoo!hoptoad!laura  sun!hoptoad!laura

linda@ee.brunel.ac.uk (Linda.) (06/08/87)

In article <19238@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> tedrick@ernie.Berkeley.EDU.UUCP (Tom Tedrick) writes:

>Because this group is for technical discussions on the philosophy of
>science and mathematics. A lot of time and effort went into creating
>this group. If you weren't around when the struggle was going on
>you probably can't appreciate what a hassle we went through.

OK OK, I tried to reply to someone that mailed me about this but it
unfortunately was bounced back.

I DO understand but I do feel that you were all getting very stewed up
and flaming people who were not AWARE of the hard work and hassle
some of you have been through. You have all made your point and
it looks as if the group is cleaning up.

People saw an unused group and thought they'd get it going. There was no need
for the immediate flaming , which to my mind set the group off to a bad
start as much as the irrelevant topics.

Although it has been spelled out, it was too long winded AND complicated
for me to read and understand.... I am not sure what technical discussions
of the philosophy of science would entail. Don't worry I'm not bothered
about my ignorance and will leave this newsgroup alone. Back to my books.

>That does not justify ruining a group such as this by posting
>innapropriate material. Linda, do you want to take the responsibility
>for ruining this group, like previous philosophy groups have
>been ruined?

OK. Point taken as I said.
I better unmark some of the postings and try and work out what we can talk
about here.

>>I understand the fear and trembling
>
>With all due respect, no, you don't understand.

I do.

-- 
Linda.

'Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without
losing your temper or your self-confidence.'

*==============================================================================*
* Linda Birmingham.              |                                             *
* Computer Centre                | Voice: +44 895 74000 Ext 2561               *
* Brunel                         | ARPA:  linda%ee.brunel.ac.uk@ucl-cs.arpa    *
* The University of West London  |                                             *
* Uxbridge                       | UUCP:  ...!ukc!ee.brunel.ac.uk!linda        *
* UB8 3PH                        |                                             *
* UNITED KINGDOM                 | JANET: linda@uk.ac.brunel.ee                *
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