Re: request new group: Comp.sys.apple2.idiotic.flamewars.

[Tom Padula <tjpadula@dowland.engr.sgi.com>]

Pat (or Jennifer Joyce Jones) asks:

> The amount of pointless flamewars on this group far exceeds that of any
> other 8bit group I frequent.  How about a new newsgroup, where those
> who have nothing else to do but post constant ad hominem attacks can
> blow off some steam and leave c.s.a2 for the purpose it was originally
> designed for?

<Delurking>

Actually, I was wondering much the same thing, tho perhaps it should be
the other way around - like:
comp.sys.apple2.useful, or 
comp.sys.apple2.constructive, or more seriously, how about
comp.sys.apple2.tech?

Charter is simple: Questions of a direct Apple ][ nature only, ie, on
hardware and software of the machine, and direct responses. No
commercial announcements permitted (use private mail for once, will
ya!?!), no flamage (ie, constructive comments only).

In the ideal world, we would long ago have followed usenet tradition a
bit more closely and have comp.sys.apple2.d (ie, for discussion), with
this group's charter there, and something like the one-paragraph charter
above for this group.

Given the dwindling support for this long-out-of-production format, I
have to say I can't believe the constant petty little power wars and
personal attacks going on here. This is ultimately descructive and
unhelpful to those of us that have an interest in keeping steam-powered
computers running, if only for hack value. They quickly lose that value
if the community undermines so visciously and consistently.

How 'bout the half-dozen of you that can't stand one another just put
your web addresses and personal email addresses in a monthly post to
this group. Then, you can consider yourselves to have all had equal time
in public, then confine your worthless arguments to the playpen of
private email, and we never have to see your drivel again.

I am still amazed at how easily and thoroughly a half-dozen
second-graders can subvert what could be a wonderful supporting group
for our interest. Here we are, each of us sitting on on a pile of
information of our personal experience or efforts, and instead of
putting our efforts into spreading the interest, we waste everyone's
time with these king-of-the-molehill arguments. Look around on usenet -
all kinds of hobbies can remain civil and positive. It's the only way
those hobbies would survive.

Would anybody in the Model-T clubs bother with working with each other
if this is the kind of environment they have to do it in? How about the
other old-car clubs, or the antique-radio groups, or any other group
striving to keep an old but admired technology in service?

Maybe it's time for comp.sys.apple2.moderated. No, I'm not volunteering,
but then there's the problem of choosing a moderator acceptable to most
(but obviously not one of the more vocal 'advocates' we have).

Or would something like comp.sys.apple2.tech be well-enough defined to
work?

-tom, trying to offer a constructive alternative to a degrading
situation

-- 
Tom Padula, Digital Media Audio Horde
Silicon Graphics Inc., Mountain View, CA
tjpadula@dowland.engr.sgi.com
650-933-7483, formerly area code 415