Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!mailrus!ames!killer!pollux!dalsqnt!rpp386!jfh
From: jfh@rpp386.UUCP (John F. Haugh II)
Newsgroups: news.admin
Subject: Re: Democracy at work: Big brother is watching
Summary: Justifiable concerns.
Message-ID: <2933@rpp386.UUCP>
Date: 19 Jun 88 18:33:47 GMT
References: <56436@sun.uucp> <15613@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> <18168@sri-unix.SRI.COM>
Distribution: na
Organization: Big "D" Home for Wayward Hackers
Lines: 61

In article <18168@sri-unix.SRI.COM>, maslak@unix.SRI.COM (Valerie Maslak) writes:
> Well, I disagree with Bill Kennedy; I think there is a question of
> right and wrong here. I also think that the monumental fuss
> over comp.women is as good a demonstration as any
> that could be found of WHY this group is appropriate as named, and
> clearly needed.

i agree in principle with what bill kennedy wrote.  however, all of
my concerns over the name and content of the group are offset by the
simplicity with which the group can be created or removed or just not
carried.  in practice, however, too many news administrators will
follow the leader and let the group onto their machines like lemmings
rushing towards the sea.

the reasons which valerie sites as being `as good a demonstration as
any' that the group needs to be created are the worst possible ones.
having read 3 articles in comp.society.women now, i feel confident that
the reasons which skyler presented were valid, and the reasons which
many of the other posters, and valerie in this particular example,
are not.

> Look, despite the ex post facto change in the voting guidelines,
> the group met the requirements and deserves to be created. Let Trish
> have a chance to demonstrate what the group can be. If it needs to
> be renamed later, it should be the users of the group who decide.

true.  the group now exists, thanks to karl kleinpaste and bill wisner,
and so far skyler has proven the group to be very interesting.
interesting enough that i have considered archiving the articles which
she is posting.

> If the vote had been reversed, and the 100-vote margin went on the
> NO side, would there have been this degree of second-guessing and
> shilly-shallying? Of course not, it would have been cut and dried
> and over and done with.

maybe true.  but then one never continues to look for the missing sock
once it is found.  unless perhaps the sock which you found is the
wrong color.  given the number of accusations of `sexist pig' which
are being tossed around news.admin, i dare say the issue would not
have been dropped.

> Backbone, get some. Don't give in to subtle prejudice and
> politicking. Create the group as comp.women.
>--
> Valerie Maslak

simply creating the group as comp.society.women obviously took considerable
backbone for bill wisner and karl kleinpaste, neither of which seem to
be that well known as backbone administrators (bill wisner at mit-eddie
and killer, and karl kleinpaste at osu-cis).

i vote we give bill, karl and (gag) matt weiner a round of applause for
this fight.  and a hearty net.pat-on-the-back to all.

- john.
-- 
John F. Haugh II                 +--------- Cute Chemistry Quote ---------
River Parishes Programming       |  "If you aren't part of the solution,
UUCP:   killer!rpp386!jfh        |   you are part of the precipitate."
DOMAIN: jfh@rpp386.uucp          |             -- Some FORTUNE program