Re: Think before you drink...opps, I mean post.

[Anders Hultman <anders.hultman@unisource.se>]

RIDLEY@ZASU.SPRL.UMICH.EDU wrote:
>   I think the entire flame war issue would be moot if people followed
> a little of what Karen said about posting pivate messages to the people
> they are responding to. [...]

I've seen this opinion beeing expressed in several news groups, but here
more than elsewhere, and I certainly don't agree. Isn't following up each
others posts one of the principles behind the Usenet? If everyone always
respon ded via private email, would there be any open discussion?

The line between an eager discussion and a flamewar is sometimes hard to
distinguish, but I think cooling down is much better than moving 
interesting threads to email. If everyone got to email, what would be left 
of the newsgroup?

>   Keep in mind that everyone has opinions. Other people's opinions
> can not really hurt you, unless they act on them. For example, if
> I was a racist and I said that I hated all people who have blue
> freckles, but I treated these people EXACTLY the same as other people,
> then my opinion would not hurt anyone.
> 
>   People are expressing their OPINIONS. They are not leaping through
> the screen, shoving Tarot cards down your throat, or playing cards for
> that matter.
> 
>   Think before you post, please.

That is a good point. Keep *posting*.

anders