Re: New group??

[johnlb@primenet.com (John Bowling)]

In article <4uh855$8o1@darla.visi.com>, Nathan Mates <nathan@visi.com> wrote:
>In article <treiter-0808962325250001@remote-35.modems.comet.net>,
> <treiter@comet.net> wrote:
>>I don't know what this would mean, exactly, but how would people feel
>>about a newsgroup dedicated to new users of the Apple II. 
>
>   Official dedications mean nothing. Names mean nothing. Purpose
>means nothing. Clueless newbies WILL post wherever they want, without
>batting an eye over the name (witness all the mac dorks in
>comp.binaries.apple2), and never think twice. There are thousand of
>"dumb computer users" (idiots who think that the mouse is a foot pedal
>for the computer, or the CD-Rom tray is a cupholder for drinks)
>stories, and they're all true.
>
>   Even if you could rewrite all news programs to put "NEWBIES GO HERE
>FIRST, DAMNIT!" in 150 point font with animated arrows pointed at it,
>digitized voices yelling at them, and electroshock therapy embedded in
>their chairs, you wouldn't solve the problem. It'd be pretty darn
>satisfying, but you'd still get all sorts of people in the wrong place.
>
>   Lack of a newsgroup for newbies is not the problem. It's them.
>Cars require a driver's license to make sure that you understand how
>to behave around others. Yes, you can't do as much damage physically
>by not understanding how to behave on the internet, but you can still
>break most of the rules and be an annoyance. Any bets on how long
>it'll take before internet licenses are common practice?

Interesting point, considering that the reality of having a driver's
neither gives anyone any kind of guarantee that the driver knows anything
about driving or that they are willing to go along with any rules.  Like
wise, the lack of one does not indicated that they do not drive, or that
some without one are bad drivers.  And, even with licenses, drivers do
*lots* of physical damage, but it doesn't make them better drivers...they
remain stupid and ignorant!  And they are allowed to continue doing it
again and again and again.... :(

Perhaps if you found some way to prevent people from writing checks in the
cash only line -- "but I didn't *see* the sign!" -- perhaps that techique
could be used here or with drivers.  I've considered exploding a blimp
to wake them up....but they would ignore that also!

Face it, everywhere there are people who do their own thing, and they
either ignore rules or make excuses for constantly violating them.

John

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- John Bowling          -- Shouldn't you be commuting by bicycle?
- johnlb@primenet.com   -- No, that's not a valid excuse!
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