Subject: A statement about all the csa2 discord.
Path: lobby!newstf02.news.aol.com!portc04.blue.aol.com!newsfeed.mathworks.com!nntp-out.monmouth.com!newspeer.monmouth.com!newsfeed.atl!upstream.atl!news2.mia.POSTED!host-209-214-27-174.psl.bellsouth.net!user
From: labelas@hotmail.com (Labelas Enoreth)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Message-ID: <labelas-2505991441470001@host-209-214-27-174.psl.bellsouth.net>
Lines: 91
Date: Tue, 25 May 1999 18:39:51 GMT
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NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 25 May 1999 14:39:51 EDT



Well, this is something I just read and, well, I think it applies. You may
find it funny, you may find it true, and you may very well find anger at
me since it's not apple2 related (but then, neither is half of the posts
about macs and such)...but, I think at least some of you should read it.
[Information copied located at "The Brunching Shuttlecocks | How to Argue
on Usenet"...URL:
http://www.brunching.com/features/feature-argueusenet.html]

                           How to Argue on Usenet

                          by L. Fitzgerald SjÐberg

    People come up and talk to me, usually on public transit, wanting to
     know how to access the newsgroups on the Internet so the terrible
   urges will go away. I try to give these people what help I can stand,
   but it saddens and distracts me to know how many out there don't know
    how to properly behave on that great landfill of the intellect known
           as Usenet. It is for them that this guide was created.

                              Picking a Battle

   Feel free to argue about anything that interests you, but keep this in
    mind: you have a moral obligation to challenge people's assumptions,
   particularly the assumption that they're not morons. So make sure that
     you pick the newsgroup where the most people are going to disagree
   with you. A simple template for your first post: "People who are into
              [insert subject of newsgroup] are such losers!"

                        A Life, The Getting Thereof

       There are only two valid activities in this world: personally
   attending to the injured and hungry, and picking fights in newsgroups.
   Everything else -- from political protest to playing "go" -- indicates
     someone who has too much spare time and needs to get a life. Point
             this out to them: they'll thank you for it later.

                                 Censorship

   Whenever anyone calls you a chowderhead, tells you they've heard more
       coherent statements from randomly arranged Scrabble tiles, or
   disagrees with you, they are practicing censorship. People who believe
      in free speech keep their opinions to themselves. Except you, of
                                  course.

                               Your Opponents

   Remember, the forces of those who disagree with you are a monolith of
     credulity and/or skepticism. You can freely assume that any one of
    them is a spokesperson for the whole mob. If one person who believes
   in gay rights also believes that the egg salad sandwiches at the 7-11
                   are controlling his mind, they all do!

                                Name Calling

    Please do! One important thing, though: don't actually refer to your
   opponent's argument. This just distracts from the refreshing change of
       pace found in speculating about his or her social life, sexual
    practices, and possible theoretical criminal background. Extra bonus
    hint: come up with a mocking variation on your adversary's name and
                         use that in all postings.

                                   Proof

   Once you've reached a stalemate on an unanswerable subject (Existence
   of God, Death Star vs. Enterprise, &c.), that doesn't mean the fun has
   to end there. Oh, heavens no! Try arguing about who has the "burden of
   proof." Remember to say "Occam's Razor" a lot. Occam was a fun guy who
   loved to have his name invoked in arguments about whether daisies can
                   think. He would have agreed with you.

                                  Winning

    This one's pretty obvious: you win when you say you win. After all,
   who's more qualified to judge the depth and wit of your reasoning than
   yourself? So make sure to keep everyone informed by reminding them in
   each post that you are winning, or more accurately that you've won and
    are just continuing the discussion because your tea isn't done yet.

                           Emergency Back-Up Plan

   Sometimes things don't go right, and you may find yourself fleetingly
    doubting your ironclad arguments. When this happens, do not question
   yourself! Who knows where that could lead? Instead, if you must, stop
   arguing. However, you can't leave people with the impression that you
      were wrong, so make as much noise about not arguing as you can.
    Explain that your opponent is not worth responding to, that they are
   biased and "PC" (it doesn't matter what the argument is: "PC" is now a
     synonym for "inclined to disagree with me"), and that you will no
   longer respond to them, except possibly to explain a couple more times
     why you're not responding. Then pat yourself on the back for a job
                                 well done.