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From: dianeh@ism780c.UUCP (Diane Holt)
Newsgroups: soc.singles
Subject: Curiouser and Curiouser (Was: Now, Oleg, hang on a minute, there...)
Message-ID: <3805@ism780c.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 8-Oct-86 21:21:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: ism780c.3805
Posted: Wed Oct  8 21:21:49 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 11-Oct-86 02:29:04 EDT
References: <1418@curly.ucla-cs.ARPA> <3561@ism780c.UUCP>
Reply-To: dianeh@ism780c.UUCP (Diane Holt)
Distribution: net
Organization: Interactive Systems Corp., Santa Monica, CA
Lines: 64
Keywords: ANNOYING to those people who think it is.
Summary: Some questions to the readers of this group.

[Are line-eater lines annoying, too?]

Well, I was going to turn this somewhat "frivolous" series of postings into
something a bit more "serious" by picking up on something Oleg has been
asserting in the last two responses he's made w.r.t. *liking* being
miserable and "happy people" being "idiots"...thought it might be kind of
interesting to see how other people feel (are they, for the most part,
miserable or happy) and what they think about it (I still think it would make
for an interesting discussion...I've been having a similar discussion lately
with some friends w.r.t "base emotional levels" -- where people "live",
emotionally), but something rather "interesting" was delivered to my mailbox
today that I thought I should probably discuss here to see what people
think...

I got a letter that said, in essence: these postings are a breach of "net
etiquette", since they're not what this group is designed for; that these
'trivial' articles may be discouraging "the more serious readers [...] from
posting"; and she was sure she spoke for "many [other] annoyed soc.singles
readers as well".  Along with this was the (possibly minor) point that the
"smiley face [(:-)] WAS meant to indicate sarcasm".

Since this is the Real First-Ever Flame received by me (thought I had one
once before, but it turned out to be a misinterpretation on my part -- sorry,
Steve), I thought I'd get your opinions on this.

1. What do all of you think the REAL purpose of this group is?  And I don't
mean what do the "rules" say -- I mean what do you, the readers and posters,
really feel this group's main objective is?  I'll tell you what I think: This
is a place where people can "get together" (electronically) and "interact"
with one another...whether it's to discuss "real" topics like dating
services, emotional commitments, sexuality, loneliness, etc., or "frivolous"
topics, such as "alot" vs. "a lot", giving thanks to party-throwers, jousting
with the Slime Sisters, Bellc*re recruiting practices, or (as was the case
here) silly flirtations with another poster.  These are all things that have
been posted to this group in the last month, and it seems to me that the
common thread among all of them is people interacting with people.

2. Are there really people out there who feel reticent about posting because
of these "frivolous" articles?  If so, why?

3. Are there really a lot (or alot :-)) of people out there who find the
"personal" postings (i.e., ones directed to particular individuals) annoying?
If there are, what is it about them that you find annoying?

4. Do most of you really see the ":-)" as an indication of *sarcasm*?  I've
always been under the impression that it was saying something more along the
lines of "Please don't take that comment seriously -- it was meant as a joke."
If it really does mean sarcasm, then I guess I'd better go back and re-read
a lot (or alot :-)) of stuff.

Anyway, I'd be happy to hear what people have to say about this, because,
frankly, I'm confused.

Oh, and Oleg...sorry, Thursday's out -- what are you doing a week from
Tuesday? (And what do you mean, you might not have an SO?...you got troubles
you're not telling us about, or what?...come on, this is the place to bare
your soul, remember? :-)

Diane Holt
Reformed Member SYNOTASWBI ("BI" Division)
{seismo,decvax,cbosgd}!hplabs!sdcrdcf!ism780c!dianeh

"I don't know anything about it...and I *told* him not to do it."
						-C.S.-