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- Newsgroups: rec.autos.tech
- Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!scott.skidmore.edu!jdrout
- From: jdrout@scott.skidmore.edu (JTD is lost)
- Subject: Netiquette & the moral QUANDRY
- Message-ID: <1992Nov23.195046.28462@scott.skidmore.edu>
- Organization: @ Wits end, Skidmore, Srtga NY! Yeoow
- Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 19:50:46 GMT
- Lines: 74
-
- Dear netters
-
-
- Recently wwein@scott.skidmore.edu posted a quiery about problems with
- the clutch of his Mitsu Eclipse GSX. Rather unusuaully he received a
- letter from someone telling him that his car was a piece of crap
- because it was Japanese. No relevent information. Warren forwarded
- it to me so I could see it (we were swapping useful relies in an
- effort to understand his problem) and I couldn't help but reply. It
- went like this:
-
- > <sarcastic remarks about author and his useful letter deleted>
- >why don't you stop wasting the time of someone actually looking for a
- >little serious advice with what could be a serious problem? I hate
- >to play net police, and really shouldn't since I'm studying for a
- >HUGE exam tonight, and just logged on to check some mail. Don't
- >waste your time, my time, or anyone else's time with stupid drivel
- >and Japan bashing.
-
- So this morning I received this reply, and thought I would share it
- with netland. It brought an interesting question to mind. I'll get
- to that in a moment. I figured everyone out there should know that
- our dollars are going to support such useful communication and helpful
- advice as this:
-
- >Look, I used to work in a tow yard and I've seen all the wrecked cars
- >I need to to know that Japanese metal(rice-metal alloy) and construction is
- >inferior.
-
- >If you're so in love with their products, why don't you go there,
- >where you belong---your not helping our economy.
-
- >If you so love the technological breakthrough of your MR2, I'll tell
- >you what
- >I'll take my Buick and we'll go Baja'n someday and see which one
- >stays in tact.
-
- >Lets not forget the one begging for help on Usenet because his new
- >Jap clutch went bad.
-
- >Let's end it here------ and if you don't like Jap Bashing, DON'T
- >WRITE BACK!
-
- >-"When I wipe my ass, I think of you".
- >sorlin
-
- What this all makes me wonder is- what is relevent to respond with in
- situations like this? When someone asks advice people are obviously
- not relegated to only answering their questions, but where do we draw
- the line between letter writing and personal insults? Net etiquette
- seems to say if you don't like someone then shut up about it. I
- believe that the FAQ list suggests keeping out of flame wars and
- avoiding useless subjects like Japan bashing and 'my car is better
- than yours' discussions. What this boils down to is 'what is the
- proper (net preferred and/or acceptable) response to this, especailly
- when personal insults enter the case (as they sometimes do). I could
- refute someone's letter line by line, prove my points against raving
- arguments, correct grammer, ignore letters, post things like this,
- etc. I fail to see what most of the above would accomplish.
- Unfortunately my system does not have a kill function that
- automatically deletes mail from certain people. A shame. Flame wars
- are a waste of time, but when struck, should I naturally strike back
- in this type of forum (email, nets, etc)? It seems inappropriate, but
- when things get personal and when someone is wasting my time and my
- friend's time...
-
-
- Just lookin' for some views on the matters.
-
- Jonathan
- jdrout@scott.skidmore.edu
- 4A-GE w107300+mi @7kprm = Smile!
-
-
-