[OT] are we adults?

[Edward G. Lochner]

Been on usenet for many years now, seen groups come and go.
I generally just sit back and read posts, unless I have something I
can contribute that is meaningful, then and only then do I contribute.
I find most of the information in these groups useful, often humorous,
even thought provoking at times.
However lately I've been seeing a trend developing, it certainly is
not a new one of course it's been around a long time. but it hasn't
reared it's ugly head up as much as it has lately, alot of bullying,
name calling, pettiness and downright nastiness, not just in this group
but in others as well.
These tantrums waste time and bandwidth. I follow a string looking for
useful information to it's conclusion, then in the middle of the string a
war breaks out the "I know you are but what am I." mentality pervades the
string and interrupt's the flow, yes there will always be conflicting
opinions, it's part of what makes us human. can't we agree to disagree and
let it be.
How does this bickering and pettiness help the usenet community or
anyone else for that matter.
How do you suppose it looks to a newbie or others that join these groups
to possibly learn something, or are just curious about a subject.
If a child pulled the kind of things I've been seeing lately he/she
would
be punished. I think it is appalling that this behavior continues.
Are we children? I think not, so lets start acting like the adults that
we are and clean up our acts. It's bad enough when the spammers do it but
when I see regulars doing it to other regulars ....well......it isn't
right.....
Continue being the helpful and insightful people that you are and stop this
nonsense once and for all. Sorry about the rant, I'll go to my room now
since I'm bound to be grounded by many who see themselves in this post.
but the truth is the truth. I'll shut up now....

 

[a]

However lately I've been seeing a trend developing, it certainly is
not a new one of course it's been around a long time. but it hasn't
reared it's ugly head up as much as it has lately, alot of bullying,
name calling, pettiness and downright nastiness, not just in this group
but in others as well.

I'm always surprised by how much the 'culture' varies, depending which
group you're in.

I was going to describe some contributors as 'Dummy spitters', but
that probably won't translate too well. What do Amercans call a dummy
tit? Is it something like 'peacemaker', or is that 'pacifier'?

"Yup, just shut the kid up, with ma peacemaker!"

 

[Ben Cooper]

Edward G. Lochner wrote:
[snip]

I'll shut up now....

Good idea.

 

[JeffG]

Been on usenet for many years now, seen groups come and go.
I generally just sit back and read posts, unless I have something I
can contribute that is meaningful, then and only then do I contribute.
I find most of the information in these groups useful, often humorous,
even thought provoking at times.
However lately I've been seeing a trend developing, it certainly is
not a new one of course it's been around a long time. but it hasn't
reared it's ugly head up as much as it has lately, alot of bullying,
name calling, pettiness and downright nastiness, not just in this group
but in others as well.
These tantrums waste time and bandwidth. I follow a string looking for
useful information to it's conclusion, then in the middle of the string a
war breaks out the "I know you are but what am I." mentality pervades the
string and interrupt's the flow, yes there will always be conflicting
opinions, it's part of what makes us human. can't we agree to disagree and
let it be.
How does this bickering and pettiness help the usenet community or
anyone else for that matter.
How do you suppose it looks to a newbie or others that join these groups
to possibly learn something, or are just curious about a subject.
If a child pulled the kind of things I've been seeing lately he/she
would
be punished. I think it is appalling that this behavior continues.
Are we children? I think not, so lets start acting like the adults that
we are and clean up our acts. It's bad enough when the spammers do it but
when I see regulars doing it to other regulars ....well......it isn't
right.....
Continue being the helpful and insightful people that you are and stop this
nonsense once and for all. Sorry about the rant, I'll go to my room now
since I'm bound to be grounded by many who see themselves in this post.
but the truth is the truth. I'll shut up now....

Amen. ACF has been one of the few ngs that I bother to read because the
contributors have always seemed knowledgable and helpful. I learn a lot
from lurking here and have even downloaded a helpful program or two. I also
have praise for alt.windows98 and its helpful contributors. Once a flame
war starts in a ng I unsubscribe. I would hope that readers and
contributors to ACF would remain adults and treasure the valuable resource
that this ng is to many who spend time on Usenet. J

 

[Semolina Pilchard]

However lately I've been seeing a trend developing, it certainly is
not a new one of course it's been around a long time. but it hasn't
reared it's ugly head up as much as it has lately, alot of bullying,
name calling, pettiness and downright nastiness, not just in this group
but in others as well.

I know it's there, but I thought it was much better these last few
months than it had been previously. Much less aggressive
OS/browser/firewall/whatever advocacy, which is at the heart of many
flame-wars, and much less spam and trolling, too. None of it ever
quite dies away - this is *usenet*, home of the text-mode hero, after
all. Good groups - and this is one of the best - manage to keep the
irresponsible aggression to a minimum, but it can never be squeezed
out altogether. Without moderation, that is, and that's a can of
worms you *don't* want to open.

Are we children? I think not, so lets start acting like the adults that
we are and clean up our acts. It's bad enough when the spammers do it but
when I see regulars doing it to other regulars ....well......it isn't
right.....

There is no "we". There's a loose group of individuals for the most
part united in their approval of freeware. Other agendas pop up from
time to time, sometimes honourably, sometimes not. In my newsreader,
the commands "add kill filter" and "ignore thread" restore peace and
harmony instantly. That's all the control any of us ever has over the
group.

Continue being the helpful and insightful people that you are and stop this
nonsense once and for all. Sorry about the rant, I'll go to my room now
since I'm bound to be grounded by many who see themselves in this post.
but the truth is the truth. I'll shut up now....

FWIW, I think you're right to comment if it seems bad to you. It may
help. Over the years, the group has gone through some grim times but
always survives with its main purpose intact: the promotion of true
freeware. Sparks may fly now and again, but it remains one of the
best and most helpful places in usenet.

 

[Andy]

Edward G. Lochner wrote:
....snip...
I agree; however alt.comp.freeware is one of the best...eventually the
trolls are not fed (too much) and leave. I literally can't keep up with the
freeware posted.

 

[omega]

Edward G. Lochner wrote:

You mean trolled. Dropped in with the old "you all suck" troll to get
responses.

[snip]

I'll shut up now....

Good idea.

By the title, I'd thought it was a stealth porn spam. Close enough: it was
a masturbatory, drooling ranting.

Zero to do with freeware.

 

[Vic Dura]

However lately I've been seeing a trend developing, it certainly is
not a new one of course it's been around a long time. but it hasn't
reared it's ugly head up as much as it has lately, alot of bullying,
name calling, pettiness and downright nastiness,

Such is human nature, particularly when people may easily adopt an
"anonymous" persona. IMO, one of the worst (and best) features of
USENET is the ability to easily hide behind anonymity.

Worst, because it fosters the kind of brutish behavior that you
describe.

Best, because it allows us to peer through the thin veneer of probity
most of us hide behind to view our "true" nature. Perhaps the insight
we so gain may be of some value.

Sorry about the rant, I'll go to my room now
since I'm bound to be grounded by many who see themselves in this post.
but the truth is the truth. I'll shut up now....

You raise good points. I wish more were inclined to do so.

IMO this NG is much less contentious now than it was several months
ago. However, I would suggest you make liberal use of your
twit-filter. You would be amazed at how much more enjoyable it can
be.

 

[Vic Dura]

FWIW, I think you're right to comment if it seems bad to you. It may
help. Over the years, the group has gone through some grim times but
always survives with its main purpose intact: the promotion of true
freeware. Sparks may fly now and again, but it remains one of the
best and most helpful places in usenet.

Well said.

 

[dszady]

Edward G. Lochner wrote:

You mean trolled. Dropped in with the old "you all suck" troll to get
responses.

[snip]

I'll shut up now....

Good idea.

By the title, I'd thought it was a stealth porn spam. Close enough: it was
a masturbatory, drooling ranting.

Zero to do with freeware.

I was going to put up a nice new picture on my site for him. But naw....
I'll save it for another day. Oh. Ok.
http://www.earths-ocular.com/allforfree.html

 

[mike ring]

Amen. ACF has been one of the few ngs that I bother to read because
the contributors have always seemed knowledgable and helpful. I learn
a lot from lurking here and have even downloaded a helpful program or
two. I also have praise for alt.windows98 and its helpful
contributors. Once a flame war starts in a ng I unsubscribe. I would
hope that readers and contributors to ACF would remain adults and
treasure the valuable resource that this ng is to many who spend time
on Usenet. J

Thanks for the link to alt.w98, I didn't know that one.

I agree with the OP, but it's not wise to say these things out loud as the
hooligans jump out of their prams, and the other side seem to take offence,
I don't know why, sometimes I think modern people see taking offence as a
career.

'speck they'll all jump on *me* now <sigh>

mike r

 

[omega]

"Ben Cooper""

Edward G. Lochner wrote:

Dropped in with the old "you all suck" troll to get responses.

[snip]

I'll shut up now....

Good idea.

I was going to put up a nice new picture on my site for him. But naw....
I'll save it for another day. Oh. Ok.
http://www.earths-ocular.com/allforfree.html

Ah, that one's very gentle. Almost endearing, how he's proud of his
"deep thots."

 

[Henry K]

Ah, that one's very gentle. Almost endearing, how he's proud of his
"deep thots."

It was an OT post, wasn't it ?

Well, Omega and Dszady ..... I actually HAD a little respect for your
opinions before these latest snide remarks. I agree with the OP, and the
comments of you two just back up what he/she was commenting on.

And I guess you have succeeded in 'dragging' me into comments I wouldn't
usually make. Like the OP, I <quote> generally just sit back and read
posts, unless I have something I can contribute that is meaningful. You two
, IMHO, make excellent examples of TROLLS.

Just my 2c worth.

 

[Henry K]

Zero to do with freeware.

So please tell me .......... just what does the prefix "OT" mean ?

 

[Tiger]

So please tell me .......... just what does the prefix "OT" mean ?

"Off-Topic," as in, "not pertinent to the subject of the group."

 

[Bob Adkins]

I was going to put up a nice new picture on my site for him. But naw....
I'll save it for another day. Oh. Ok.
http://www.earths-ocular.com/allforfree.html

HEY! That's a picture of me! You don't have my permission to use it! =(|)

Bob

Remove "kins" from address to reply.

 

[Mister Charlie]

HEY! That's a picture of me! You don't have my permission to use it! =(|)

Bob

Thank God it was just a fist. As the jpeg downloaded I was afraid the
monkey would be doing something far worse!

 

[B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson]

Hm. I always had the feeling there are a lot of kids or what one calls
'young adults', nowadays, around here. Why not? Freeware is especially
important for these folks, as most of them simply can't afford any kind
of commercial software. The so-called 'childish' behavior does not
depend on age but mostly on the mental state of the poster.

So: Kids *and* adults - keep on posting! But be kind, one to each other!

There is no "we". There's a loose group of individuals for the most
part united in their approval of freeware. Other agendas pop up from
time to time, sometimes honourably, sometimes not. In my newsreader,
the commands "add kill filter" and "ignore thread" restore peace and
harmony instantly. That's all the control any of us ever has over the
group.

I agree with most of what you said. But I sure think there's some scent
of *we* in this group.

Sparks may fly now and again, but it remains one of the
best and most helpful places in usenet.

Yep!

All the best,

BeAr

 

[omega]

usually make. Like the OP, I <quote> generally just sit back and read
posts, unless I have something I can contribute that is meaningful.

This post of yours, it is the furthest extreme from being "a contribution
that is meaningful." The OP, whom you admire, from what I've seen, has
never participated in freeware discussions. Merely trolls in to call
people "children."

The way to make a newsgroup work is by focussing on its *subject.*

It is destructive to support these *off-topic* Group-Insult threads.
One side effect is it drains energies and motivations from the regular
contributions.

You two, IMHO, make excellent examples of TROLLS.

If that is your worldview, then fire up the killfile. Why are people
so slow to grasp the *most essential practice* for reading netnews?

 

[omega]

HEY! That's a picture of me! You don't have my permission to use it! =(|)

With that grey around your temples, Bob, you look very wise and dignified.

Seeing that you are an elder in the clan, I must be sure to hang on the
branches in the back, and not chitter too much before your measured presence.

Except. I admit when I see you from the rear, flashing red, I can't but
view you with far less levity. (Recall that distinguishing physical feature
enjoyed by the baboon family...)