X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: f996b,4c191a57c9b2123e X-Google-Attributes: gidf996b,public From: Jeanne Gold Subject: Re: The CP2 controversy Date: 1997/10/09 Message-ID: <343D2FE2.5F40@ix.netcom.com>#1/1 X-Deja-AN: 279044258 References: Reply-To: goldj@ix.netcom.com Organization: Netcom X-NETCOM-Date: Thu Oct 09 12:26:10 PM PDT 1997 Newsgroups: alt.ascii-art Dear alt.ascii-art and Patrick Craig, I was surfing the 'net looking for something entirely different when I came across this group. I was tickled pink to find the Garfield and Odie pics which I forwarded to my sister ... but of course, while going through the group, I happened to read the messages about the "CP2 Controversy". Patrick, regardless of your position, your attitude seems a bit off key to me. I can well understand your taking offence at some of the email sent to you, however, what do you gain by fanning the fire. I was a teaching assistant at Southwestern Community College (Chula Vista, CA) for Greg Mohler (I can't remember the exact spelling of his name) and Alice Stapczynsky, in the Computer Science department. My suggestions to them were always taken into consideration and often had an influence. What I fail to understand is why: (1) you perpetuate this dialogue ... if you ignored it, I think, the email would eventually stop. (2) you don't take it up with the appropriate instructor ... I'm certain he/she would find a solution to the "problem". (3) you don't discuss "it" with the students ... I'm certain they don't want to go against the wishes of the group. (4) if you really feel people should complain to the science department, why haven't you provided a means of contact, such as a mailing address or an email address or a phone number? I'm not new to computers nor to the 'net, but I've had limited experience with usenet groups. I'm aware of making mistakes and don't take offence when corrected. I simply apologize. Even when I make mistakes in areas where I have extensive experience. I don't claim to be perfect. The only time I feel slighted is when my apology goes unrecognized and I still get flamed. And it does happen. To the group, I relate the following incident as point in fact: I get about 200-300 emails a day. About 75% of them are SPAM that are sex-related. Most of the time, I just deleted them; however, I started seeing them in my children's email boxes (one is 12 and the other is 14). I became incensed, replied using SpamHater ... WITHOUT looking at the headers. What I hadn't noticed was that the email had come via one of the usenet groups causing all kinds of problems. The bottom line was that I created a flurry of SPAM HATE mail on a message group that is devoted to announcing new/updated genealogical sites. Needless to say, I was very embarrassed when I realized my error, and I sent a letter of apology to the group and to the list owner in particular. Can you imagine when, to my absolute horror, I was summarily removed from the group for flaming/spamming? It is so very easy to misread/misunderstand people when they are standing in front of you and you can hear their tone of voice, see their body language ... but remove all the sensory inputs to which we are accustomed when communicating by email ... and all hell breaks loose! Folks ... we all make mistakes. But we can learn by them. Craig -- I hope you have learned something from this and would be willing to try and set things right. I can't believe that you aren't a nice person. Regards, Jeanne Gold goldj@ix.netcom.com http://www.gold-cousins.org/ Lest I forget ... I find the ASCII art absolutely WONDERFUL. Kudos to all of you and your really delightful and wonderful group.