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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!hao!ward
From: ward@hao.UUCP (Mike Ward)
Newsgroups: net.origins
Subject: Re: about origins...
Message-ID: <1568@hao.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 1-Jun-85 10:14:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: hao.1568
Posted: Sat Jun  1 10:14:43 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 2-Jun-85 07:48:03 EDT
References: <246@ihdev.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: High Altitude Obs./NCAR, Boulder CO
Lines: 79

> outside of a lot of tossed
> pies, has this groups accomplished anything??  

This is a USENET-wide question that we had all better hope that
Dan Rather never asks.  Except for the technical newsgroups,
most newsgroups accomplish little except to provide some enjoyment
to the users.

In fact this newsgroup has become one of the few that I regularly
participate in.  By this participation, I have increased my understanding
of science in general and gained a new enthusiasm for the biological
sciences.  By watching science be attacked by very intelligent
people with a heavy commitment to its destruction I have gained
a respect for its health a vigor.  By examining the paucity of
arguments against science I no longer have much fear that the
fundamentalists will prevail in any rational society (tho I still
fear for the fate of the USofA).

For me, this newsgroup has accomplished a lot - but most of all,
I have enjoyed it.

> so altogether this is like net.flame for lightweights, the topic is too
> damn easy:  from either side, the other side is easy prey.  i could
> tear up any creationist theory, and punch holes in the evolution theory.
> so could anyone else who wast the time to type it in....

This implies that net.flames is inhabited by heavy-weights.  My
very infrequent veiwing of net.flames have left me with the
impression that it is crammed full of people who are akin to
the lightest of the net.origins light-weights (like Arndt & Hua).
While I don't think that anyone in net.origins really expects
to convince anyone else, there is usually a courteous willingness
to hear and respond to the other side.  Ad Hominum attacks are
usually avoided and flames are usually directed at general groups
and positions, rather that individuals (tho I have been guilty
as others in the exceptions to this rule).  In general, the folks
in this group are a whole lot nicer than the things that inhabit
net.flames.  And show a lot more intelligence.

> i'm kind of ashamed of both sides of the house.  you creationist are NOT
> going to convince a bunch of technical, educated people (most netters are) of
> your beliefs.  a person is a christian or not, and you are not going to convert
> someone to christianity through e-mail.  the rest of your are lightweight
> flamers -- picking on creationist is too easy.  most of you who argue with
> creationist are here just for the sport of it, but your fishing for 3 pound
> bass with a 20 pound line.  christians love to be martyrs, and you guys
> are here to pound nails in their little individual crosses.  sucker.

This makes me very happy that this guy has discovered net.origins
so late.  I hope that he is true to himself, and now abandons
it.  Someone who thinks that heavy duty flaming is sport is someone
we don't need.  Someone who sees no value in a debate unless
a person's mind is changed is someone we don't need.  I fear
that this posting will not be the last from this clown, and that
his contributions will not be positive. 

(I also notice that he could not resist doing the very things
he criticises the rest of us for doing - his suggestions are
mere parroting of things that have been said many times here)

> hope you don't mind an outsider
> coming in and commenting on everything, but sometimes and outside view
> can shed some new light on a situation.  hope this helps some....

How can there be an outsider on USENET?  Is this an exclusive
club?  You got a Unix login, you're a member.  It will not help
to post more articles like this.  Net.origins has started to
look too much like net.politics or net.religion already.  We
do not need it to turn into a net.flames.

I would like to see more postings from this gentleman, but not
if they are on the level of his first.


Michael Ward, NCAR/SCD
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