From: Kennita Watson (kwatson@netcom.com)
Date: Thu Oct 09 1997 - 10:29:01 MDT
>We're back to the question: is this a clubhouse or an outreach group?
>
It's a clubhouse -- it's an outreach group -- it's two, two, two
lists in one! :-)
Seriously, I think the most effective policy is "if you don't like it,
don't reply to it". It also saves a _lot_ of time. Even writing a
plonk message is a time-waster; what good does knowing you've plonked
someone do anyone, including the plonkee? It may only encourage them.
To wit: Memetic fitness is determined not by desirability, but by
propagability. Like a TV commercial, you can dislike it all you want,
but it's done its job if you remember it (note my first line; apparently
Certs did its job). As a matter of fact, if it's obnoxious enough that
you go around telling people how obnoxious it is, it's done even better
("Hi kids!... Bye kids!").
To stretch another analogy: as I recall, an overactive immune response
to invaders can also be detrimental to an organism.
And another: Let's be like a type of soil that undesirable seeds don't
grow in. Think about it -- what nourishes ideas? Attention. Any kind
of attention. (analogy seque) Like a child who's naughty because it
gets em negative attention when no positive attention is forthcoming.
Sigh. Maybe I'm coming up with all these analogies because it's so
clear to me that "you are an (idiot, immoral bastard, inconsiderate
lout, etc.)" posts are counterproductive. Man's email should exceed his
time, or what's a D key for? I suppose I also hope that a broad-
spectrum vaccine will inoculate more list members.
Live long and prosper,
Kennita, who doesn't plonk anyone and still has time for Star Trek
Kennita Watson | The bond that links your true family is not one of blood,
kwatson@netcom.com| but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do
| members of the same family grow up under the same roof.
| -- Richard Bach, _Illusions_
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