Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site sphinx.UChicago.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!ihnp4!gargoyle!sphinx!mmar From: mmar@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (Mitchell Marks) Newsgroups: net.jokes.d,net.women Subject: Re: That's not funny! Message-ID: <1666@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP> Date: Sat, 15-Feb-86 20:00:50 EST Article-I.D.: sphinx.1666 Posted: Sat Feb 15 20:00:50 1986 Date-Received: Mon, 17-Feb-86 05:30:40 EST References: <11841@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <1174@oddjob.UUCP> Reply-To: mmar@sphinx.UUCP (Mitchell Marks) Organization: U Chicago Lines: 74 Xref: watmath net.jokes.d:1525 net.women:9042 Summary: Sequence of a typical dialogue: A: B: Has anybody noticed that offensive joke by A? Look, it's offensive for the following reasons: _____. Really, A, please think about it, and try to clean up your act. Now that I've pointed out the offensive subtext in your joke, you might want to really examine your attitudes, and see if you really mean to imply these things about C: Hey, B, you ***hole! Who the hell are you to censor A?!! I thought the joke was funny, but anyway the real issue is censorship. When will all you ****heads learn that net.jokes is A TOTALLY OPEN NEWSGROUP???! B: But I wasn't censoring or trying to. I didn't write to A's administrator, etc. I was just pointing out the offensive content, for two purposes: to ask A to think about whether he/she really means those offensive implications, and if so to try to change his/her mind. And to point it out to other readers. D: Calm down, B. No reason to get so excited. Just for the record, I think the joke was funny, and also I think it was offensive. But don't you know that if a topic offends you all you have to do is use your n key? Or in extreme cases, set your kill file to ignore postings from A. B: But my purpose in objecting was not just to get A to stop posting these, in order to spare myself the offensive jokes. There was something else at stake, educating other readers and perhaps A him/herself. This is distinct from both censorship and merely sparing myself offensive jokes. E,F,G,H etc in an endless chorus: (1) Egad! Censorship! (2) Learn to use your 'n' key. K: Actually, B, let's discuss whether the subtext you saw was really there. On your reading ____. L: I think the subtext B pointed out was really there, but it needn't be taken as offensive. It depends on where you stand on the following issue: ______. B: Ah, some intelligent discussion from K and L. But you're both wrong, because the subtext and implied attitude really were there, since , and it is reasonable to regard that as offensive, since . K,L: C,D,E,F,G,H -- Oh, this is so boring. When will you learn to use the 'n' key? When will you learn that net.jokes, net.flame, etc is a totally open newsgroup? When will you stop repeating your pointless discussion over whether A's joke was really offensive? Oh, this is so boring. When will you learn to use your 'n' key? Censorship! As bad as Russia! Oh, this discussion of whether a joke is offensive is getting so boring. Can't B,K, and L stop repeating themselves. When will you learn to use the 'n' key? Censorship! B,K,L : -- -- Mitch Marks @ UChicago ...ihnp4!gargoyle!sphinx!mmar