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Path: utzoo!linus!wivax!dyer
From: dyer@wivax.UUCP (Stephen Dyer)
Newsgroups: net.news.group
Subject: Re: Opinions regarding "net.gay" (long message)
Message-ID: <18679@wivax.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 18-Sep-83 01:07:59 EDT
Article-I.D.: wivax.18679
Posted: Sun Sep 18 01:07:59 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 18-Sep-83 13:10:29 EDT
References: <139@vortex.UUCP>
Organization: Wang Institute, Tyngsboro, Ma.  10879
Lines: 32

Doubtless Lauren's and my own news items crossed in the news, but I would
like to clarify a misconception that he seemed to share (probably with
many others.)  This may come as a shock, but:

	NET.GAY ISN'T ABOUT SEX!!!!

Frankly, there are LOTS of bulletin boards available to 100% of the
USENET population whose specialties cover just about every variety
of sexual behavior you can think of--just wait for the next posting of
"PAMS", public access message systems.  They are very good at their
business, and I wouldn't suggest that USENET try to supplement them.
Frankly, if I were paying the phone bills, I'd be less than sanguine
about supplying my employees with an electronic "dating service"
(pardon the euphemism) regardless of their sexual preference.

I view 'net.gay' as a forum for the discussion of gay issues (most of
which are emphatically NOT sexual in nature--e.g., AIDS research and
funding, the situations of gay fathers and mothers, relationships, etc.)
I do not think that anything discussed there would be out of place
in any discussion among aware, concerned adults.  The forum would be open
to all, straight and gay.

Now some may think that I am placing words in their mouths.  I am not.
I am merely stating what I envisioned as the function of the news group.
I do NOT support the concept of 'net.personal'.  Like I said, other
systems can do a better job of that without bureaucratic hassles.

I welcome further opinions.

/Steve Dyer
decvax!wivax!dyer
sdyer@bbn-unix