Community lifespans
Guy W. Thomas
is a part of my bad mood. I'm happy to believe it's all in my head, but
today it's bothering me more than it has. In the last month or so, I've felt
like several of the communities I am part of in are "dissipating" for lack
of a better word. Now in the disability community I'm used to this. I am
at the age that many of my old companions in activism are dying. It's been
happening for six or seven years now and of course younger advocates are
picking up the torch and moving forward. Fortunately (unfortunately for me
and my feeling for community) the younger generation is more diverse and are
starting with a different mindset than I had as the disabled young man.
Anyway I digress. What I mean to be talking about is that, for me, community
needs to have some insularity from the larger culture. Consequently, as
they become larger and more successful they lose some of that separateness
and disburse into the larger culture or break into subsets.
An example of that for me would be science-fiction fandom. When I first
became involved in science-fiction, I could talk to another SF reader and we
would have a half-dozen books or authors that we could talk about.
Nowadays, I could run into somebody who reads science-fiction and not have
one book or author in common. Now we have mediafen, trekker's, furryfen,
apans, cyberpunks, costumers, etc.
I'm starting to feel like alt.poly is dissolving. It's been a while since a
topic has come up that is interesting to me. It's been a while, to me, since
I've read a substantial thread about poly in this group. Maybe I haven't
been paying enough attention. Maybe, I'm just becoming the old guy in the
corner complaining about how things were in "my day". I really didn't mean
this to come out as a criticism of this newsgroup. It seems to be happening
on the local poly list I administer as well. Being polyamorous isn't enough
of a commonality as I think it used to be. Does anyone else feel this way?
--
Guy W. Thomas
San Leandro, CA
http://www.xango.org
"All love is work. The notion that it can, or should, be effortless is
something foisted on us by literature and the movies, I think. But even
knowing that doesn't proof one against the occasional case of the
'Idonwannas!'"
- Pat Kight, on Alt.Poly
Steve Pope
> I'm starting to feel like alt.poly is dissolving. It's been a
> while since a topic has come up that is interesting to me. It's
> been a while, to me, since I've read a substantial thread about
> poly in this group. Maybe I haven't been paying enough
> attention. Maybe, I'm just becoming the old guy in the corner
> complaining about how things were in "my day". I really didn't
> mean this to come out as a criticism of this newsgroup. It seems
> to be happening on the local poly list I administer as well.
> Being polyamorous isn't enough of a commonality as I think it
> used to be. Does anyone else feel this way?
Yes, I think the flavor of this group has changed over the
time I've been here (since, 1992 I believe). It's tempting
to say "things were better, back then".
I attribute this to a smaller fraction of the participants
really needing it to be a poly support group. Good in a
way -- perhaps the need is less in part due to an improvement in
people needing/finding support without coming here.
But I think as social usenet newsgroups go, this one has held
up pretty well over the last decade. Many of them have
died entirely, or close to it.
Steve
Mean Green Dancing Machine
>since a topic has come up that is interesting to me. It's been a while,
>to me, since I've read a substantial thread about poly in this group.
>Maybe I haven't been paying enough attention. Maybe, I'm just becoming
>the old guy in the corner complaining about how things were in "my
>day". I really didn't mean this to come out as a criticism of this
>newsgroup. It seems to be happening on the local poly list I administer
>as well. Being polyamorous isn't enough of a commonality as I think it
>used to be. Does anyone else feel this way?
Yup. Although I felt that way about the local poly list long before I
started feeling that way about alt.poly.
--
--- Aahz <*> (Copyright 2003 by aa...@pobox.com)
Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://www.rahul.net/aahz/
Androgynous poly kinky vanilla queer het Pythonista
"Look, it's your affair if you want to play with five people, but don't
go calling it doubles." --John Cleese anticipates Usenet
songbird
...
> I'm starting to feel like alt.poly is dissolving. It's been a while since a
> topic has come up that is interesting to me.
what is interesting to you?
> It's been a while, to me, since
> I've read a substantial thread about poly in this group.
i think the thread about marking is substantial and i like
the example that was shown how communication worked it out (at
least as of a few days ago when i had time to read it all --
now i'm behind again, so i don't know what there might be for
recent news or how the thread has gone).
> Maybe I haven't
> been paying enough attention. Maybe, I'm just becoming the old guy in the
> corner complaining about how things were in "my day".
it comes and goes.
> I really didn't mean
> this to come out as a criticism of this newsgroup. It seems to be happening
> on the local poly list I administer as well. Being polyamorous isn't enough
> of a commonality as I think it used to be. Does anyone else feel this way?
no, but i'm in a much different circumstance than you are so that
wouldn't surprise me. :) there isn't a local poly community around
here that i have been able to find. the closest i get is a protest
hippy and drug sort of culture and well that doesn't appeal to me
(except perahaps the protest and hippy parts :) ). thus a.p. is still
the place where i can speak and not feel as if i'm among people who
don't know me in some important ways.
songbird *tweets*
Guy W. Thomas
"Steve Pope" <spo...@speedymail.org> wrote in message
news:b91j2p$qmc$1...@blue.rahul.net...
> Guy W. Thomas <gu...@speakeasy.net> wrote:
>
> > I'm starting to feel like alt.poly is dissolving. It's been a
> > while since a topic has come up that is interesting to me. It's
> > been a while, to me, since I've read a substantial thread about
> > poly in this group. Maybe I haven't been paying enough
> > attention. Maybe, I'm just becoming the old guy in the corner
> > complaining about how things were in "my day". I really didn't
> > mean this to come out as a criticism of this newsgroup. It seems
> > to be happening on the local poly list I administer as well.
> > Being polyamorous isn't enough of a commonality as I think it
> > used to be. Does anyone else feel this way?
>
> Yes, I think the flavor of this group has changed over the
> time I've been here (since, 1992 I believe). It's tempting
> to say "things were better, back then".
It is and I don't really want this to be a conversation about how much
better or worse the group has been. This could easily be more about where I
am in life and if I still fit.
>
> I attribute this to a smaller fraction of the participants
> really needing it to be a poly support group. Good in a
> way -- perhaps the need is less in part due to an improvement in
> people needing/finding support without coming here.
*nod*
> But I think as social usenet newsgroups go, this one has held
> up pretty well over the last decade. Many of them have
> died entirely, or close to it.
Fair enough.
Guy W. Thomas
"Mean Green Dancing Machine" <aa...@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:b91k5b$5sc$1...@panix3.panix.com...
> In article <tLudnRyB0a7...@speakeasy.net>,
> Guy W. Thomas <gu...@speakeasy.net> wrote:
> >
> >I'm starting to feel like alt.poly is dissolving. It's been a while
> >since a topic has come up that is interesting to me. It's been a while,
> >to me, since I've read a substantial thread about poly in this group.
> >Maybe I haven't been paying enough attention. Maybe, I'm just becoming
> >the old guy in the corner complaining about how things were in "my
> >day". I really didn't mean this to come out as a criticism of this
> >newsgroup. It seems to be happening on the local poly list I administer
> >as well. Being polyamorous isn't enough of a commonality as I think it
> >used to be. Does anyone else feel this way?
>
> Yup. Although I felt that way about the local poly list long before I
> started feeling that way about alt.poly.
*sigh* I can always count on you Aahz.
Guy W. Thomas
"songbird" <spam...@anthive.com> wrote in message
news:b91qd2$enteb$1...@ID-138926.news.dfncis.de...
> Guy W. Thomas wrote:
>
> ...
> > I'm starting to feel like alt.poly is dissolving. It's been a while
since a
> > topic has come up that is interesting to me.
>
> what is interesting to you?
*grin* You got me. Maybe I am the old fogey after all. I like to read
things that make me think differently about things.
> > It's been a while, to me, since
> > I've read a substantial thread about poly in this group.
>
> i think the thread about marking is substantial and i like
> the example that was shown how communication worked it out (at
> least as of a few days ago when i had time to read it all --
> now i'm behind again, so i don't know what there might be for
> recent news or how the thread has gone).
>
That's a fair example. That thread had honestly slipped my mind.
> > Maybe I haven't
> > been paying enough attention. Maybe, I'm just becoming the old guy in
the
> > corner complaining about how things were in "my day".
>
> it comes and goes.
That, I have personal experience with in this group. Just feels like to the
going has been longer lately.
>
> > I really didn't mean
> > this to come out as a criticism of this newsgroup. It seems to be
happening
> > on the local poly list I administer as well. Being polyamorous isn't
enough
> > of a commonality as I think it used to be. Does anyone else feel this
way?
>
> no, but i'm in a much different circumstance than you are so that
> wouldn't surprise me. :) there isn't a local poly community around
> here that i have been able to find. the closest i get is a protest
> hippy and drug sort of culture and well that doesn't appeal to me
> (except perahaps the protest and hippy parts :) ). thus a.p. is still
> the place where i can speak and not feel as if i'm among people who
> don't know me in some important ways.
It's good hear that it is still a place to hang out for you.
songbird
> "songbird" <spam...@anthive.com> wrote:
> > Guy W. Thomas wrote:
> >
> > ...
> > > I'm starting to feel like alt.poly is dissolving. It's been a while since a
> > > topic has come up that is interesting to me.
> >
> > what is interesting to you?
>
> *grin* You got me. Maybe I am the old fogey after all. I like to read
> things that make me think differently about things.
i do too. the "comet commentary" thread was delightful to me
for the things i was reading about planet/star formation and
the various theories involved.
ok, so besides things that make you think differently what
else is interesting to you? from the post you're making i'd
infer social dynamics, but that's putting words in your mouth
(me, having watched social dynamics in usenet newsgroups for
many years find the topic very interesting :) ).
> > > It's been a while, to me, since
> > > I've read a substantial thread about poly in this group.
> >
> > i think the thread about marking is substantial and i like
> > the example that was shown how communication worked it out (at
> > least as of a few days ago when i had time to read it all --
> > now i'm behind again, so i don't know what there might be for
> > recent news or how the thread has gone).
> >
> That's a fair example. That thread had honestly slipped my mind.
it's tough to talk about the same topics repeatedly and keep
the comments interesting for the people who've read me before.
> > > Maybe I haven't
> > > been paying enough attention. Maybe, I'm just becoming the old guy in the
> > > corner complaining about how things were in "my day".
> >
> > it comes and goes.
>
> That, I have personal experience with in this group. Just feels like to the
> going has been longer lately.
sometimes circumstances change and a person wants to find a
"reason" for feeling different but they don't recognize that
the reason they feel different is because their circumstances
have changed.
my own experience is that when i have the time to follow this
group pretty closely i enjoy it, but when i start getting squeezed
for time i get frustrated at not being able to answer all the
posts that i'd like to reply to and that makes it tougher for me
to post during those times. also if i have things to talk about.
sometimes my life is routine and the sorts of things i'd be posting
about would be like "i had to use a razor today for the first time
in many years." or "i was upset that one of my bosses put words in
my mouth." or "i like it when i can have fun at work because a
coworker has a good sense of humor". or "flowers!" or *poi*. in
each of these cases it takes more energy to actually fill out the
details and the background to make a story enough for it to work
as a post.
> > > I really didn't mean
> > > this to come out as a criticism of this newsgroup. It seems to be happening
> > > on the local poly list I administer as well. Being polyamorous isn't enough
> > > of a commonality as I think it used to be. Does anyone else feel this way?
> >
> > no, but i'm in a much different circumstance than you are so that
> > wouldn't surprise me. :) there isn't a local poly community around
> > here that i have been able to find. the closest i get is a protest
> > hippy and drug sort of culture and well that doesn't appeal to me
> > (except perahaps the protest and hippy parts :) ). thus a.p. is still
> > the place where i can speak and not feel as if i'm among people who
> > don't know me in some important ways.
>
> It's good hear that it is still a place to hang out for you.
it's important to me to be here when i can, but i can't be
reading/writing here nearly as much as i've done before. so
that is a change i'm having to muddle through and figure out
what's going on.
songbird *peeps*
Stef
>An example of that for me would be science-fiction fandom. When I first
>became involved in science-fiction, I could talk to another SF reader and we
>would have a half-dozen books or authors that we could talk about.
>Nowadays, I could run into somebody who reads science-fiction and not have
>one book or author in common. Now we have mediafen, trekker's, furryfen,
>apans, cyberpunks, costumers, etc.
Is this another manifestation of the fact that there's so much more
information and so each of us is becoming more ignorant?
>I'm starting to feel like alt.poly is dissolving. It's been a while since a
>topic has come up that is interesting to me. It's been a while, to me, since
>I've read a substantial thread about poly in this group. Maybe I haven't
>been paying enough attention. Maybe, I'm just becoming the old guy in the
>corner complaining about how things were in "my day". I really didn't mean
>this to come out as a criticism of this newsgroup. It seems to be happening
>on the local poly list I administer as well. Being polyamorous isn't enough
>of a commonality as I think it used to be. Does anyone else feel this way?
Sorta-kinda. I thought it was just that I had gotten interested in
spending time on other things.
--
Stef ** avid/sensible/sensual/wise/essential/elemental/tangle
** st...@cat-and-dragon.com <*> http://www.cat-and-dragon.com/stef
**
What the hell, go ahead and put all your eggs in one basket. /fortune
Cally Soukup
> An example of that for me would be science-fiction fandom. When I first
> became involved in science-fiction, I could talk to another SF reader and we
> would have a half-dozen books or authors that we could talk about.
> Nowadays, I could run into somebody who reads science-fiction and not have
> one book or author in common. Now we have mediafen, trekker's, furryfen,
> apans, cyberpunks, costumers, etc.
Well, back in the day, it was possible to read everything every
publisher put out in the SF genre, and still catch up on the backlist.
Nowadays, it'd be like drinking from a firehose. There's simply no way
to keep up. And a lot of the younger fans haven't read the backlist,
because there's too much other stuff to read. So it's a mixed thing.
I appreciate that there's more good stuff to read, and I solicit
recommendations from people, while recommending good old stuff myself.
(Unfortunately, I lost the recommendation of a new novel about a female
private eye in the Regency period that I got at Minicon. Darnit.)
--
"I may disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend
to the death your right to say it." -- Beatrice Hall
Cally Soukup sou...@pobox.com
barbara trumpinski-roberts
> (Unfortunately, I lost the recommendation of a new novel about a female
> private eye in the Regency period that I got at Minicon. Darnit.)
i won't swear to it, but could that be _the eyre affair_ by jasper fford??
i haven't read it, but i have been tempted.
hugs,
kitten
-- barbara trumpinski-roberts (smotu) ACES Library kit...@uiuc.edu
Chuck Jones once said that Bugs Bunny is who we imagine ourselves
to be but Daffy Duck is who we fear that we actually are.
lisa cohen
>
> On 4 May 2003, Cally Soukup wrote:
> > (Unfortunately, I lost the recommendation of a new novel about a female
> > private eye in the Regency period that I got at Minicon. Darnit.)
>
> i won't swear to it, but could that be _the eyre affair_ by jasper fford??
> i haven't read it, but i have been tempted.
i have read it and that is not at all how i would describe it. _the
eyre affair_ takes place in the future and the characters have the
ability to enter books which is how some of them wind up in _jane eyre_.
lisa
Cally Soukup
> On 4 May 2003, Cally Soukup wrote:
>> (Unfortunately, I lost the recommendation of a new novel about a female
>> private eye in the Regency period that I got at Minicon. Darnit.)
> i won't swear to it, but could that be _the eyre affair_ by jasper fford??
> i haven't read it, but i have been tempted.
No, I'm pretty sure it's relatively new (possibly in hardcover?), and
written by a woman. I was quite pleased to find out that _Sorcery and
Cecelia_ (Wrede and Stevermer) has been reissued in hardcover, though.
Now if they'd only finish the sequel, _The Grand Tour_...
Mary Kay
>
> I'm starting to feel like alt.poly is dissolving. It's been a while since a
> topic has come up that is interesting to me. It's been a while, to me, since
> I've read a substantial thread about poly in this group. Maybe I haven't
> been paying enough attention. Maybe, I'm just becoming the old guy in the
> corner complaining about how things were in "my day". I really didn't mean
> this to come out as a criticism of this newsgroup. It seems to be happening
> on the local poly list I administer as well. Being polyamorous isn't enough
> of a commonality as I think it used to be. Does anyone else feel this way?
>
I used to spend huge amounts of time on rec.arts.sf.fandom and hardly
post there at all any more. Many of the people who originally drew and
kept me there are gone; but the fuggheads are still there. And getting
louder and more obnoxious without the keeping in check that many of the
now-absent posters used to do. I dunno. Maybe groups have a natural
life-span like people do. And I'd expect e-groups of any sort to have a
speeded up timeline in that regards. Sure is a bummer though. I miss
rasff immensely.
MKK
--
There are 10 types of people in the world; those who understand binary,
and those who don't.
Kris Hasson-Jones
submitted the following for your consideration:
>I used to spend huge amounts of time on rec.arts.sf.fandom and hardly
>post there at all any more.
[...]
>I miss
>rasff immensely.
As a mutual friend of yours and mine posted on my livejournal, if we
all leave, how will it ever turn back into something good? I'm taking
a break from it to let a volatile situation calm down (I hope; at
least *I* will calm down), but there are so many people I wish would
come back--Graydon and Patrick and Jo and so many more I can't think
of right now.
We could have a Nicoll pledge for rasf...I'm not exactly sure how to
word it, but we could work it out.
--
Kris Hasson-Jones sni...@pacifier.com
What Would Aragorn Do?
Mean Green Dancing Machine
Kris Hasson-Jones <sni...@pacifier.com> wrote:
>On Sun, 4 May 2003 20:25:34 -0700, mar...@kare.ws (Mary Kay)
>submitted the following for your consideration:
>>
>
>As a mutual friend of yours and mine posted on my livejournal, if we
>all leave, how will it ever turn back into something good? I'm taking
>a break from it to let a volatile situation calm down (I hope; at least
>*I* will calm down), but there are so many people I wish would come
>back--Graydon and Patrick and Jo and so many more I can't think of
>right now.
<pout>
;-)
(I suspect I'm before your time, actually.)
Pat Kight
>... I dunno. Maybe groups have a natural
> life-span like people do.
*nod* I see very much the same sort of thing happening in the community
theater I've been part of for nearly 20 years, and I've experienced it
myself in two other newsgroups, one I frequent only occasionally now and
another in which I've stopped participating entirely.
I tend to think of it as a dilemma that's as much about my own changes
as the group's. We all change, our needs change, and what draws us to a
group may not always be enough to keep us there.
Hm. I suspect there's an ObPoly lurking in there somewhere...
--
Pat Kight
kig...@peak.org
Kris Hasson-Jones
Machine) submitted the following for your consideration:
>In article <61qbbv0kr0dop5rij...@4ax.com>,
>Kris Hasson-Jones <sni...@pacifier.com> wrote:
>>On Sun, 4 May 2003 20:25:34 -0700, mar...@kare.ws (Mary Kay)
>>submitted the following for your consideration:
>>>
>>>I miss rasff immensely.
>>
>>As a mutual friend of yours and mine posted on my livejournal, if we
>>all leave, how will it ever turn back into something good? I'm taking
>>a break from it to let a volatile situation calm down (I hope; at least
>>*I* will calm down), but there are so many people I wish would come
>>back--Graydon and Patrick and Jo and so many more I can't think of
>>right now.
>
><pout>
>
>
>;-)
>
>
>(I suspect I'm before your time, actually.)
<geekflirt>but I do want you</geekflirt>
Yeah, I think you're from before my time. But I think you'd
contribute good stuff I'd want to read, instead of crossposting
political stuff to other newsgroups.
Taliesin
> I'm starting to feel like alt.poly is dissolving. It's been a while
since a
> topic has come up that is interesting to me. It's been a while, to
me, since
> I've read a substantial thread about poly in this group. Maybe I haven't
> been paying enough attention. Maybe, I'm just becoming the old guy
in the
> corner complaining about how things were in "my day". I really
didn't mean
> this to come out as a criticism of this newsgroup. It seems to be
happening
> on the local poly list I administer as well. Being polyamorous isn't
enough
> of a commonality as I think it used to be. Does anyone else feel
this way?
One definition of entropy says that only so much energy can be put into
a given system before that system starts to collapse (or change). You
can't fight entropy. Systems are going to collapse and, perhaps, then
rebuild as something else and are going to change along the way before a
final, inevitable collapse.
As someone who is relatively new to this group (I've been here about two
years, I think), I'm finding it all quite fascinating. No, not all the
topics are of interest to me, and I don't read every post in every
thread. But I think this is a good community and I've learned a great
deal here about polyamory and about people in general.
Individuals change too. Five years ago I don't think I would have been
ready (emotionally) to move into a group living situation, as I recently
did. Change is difficult to accept. But it has to happen. It's the
nature of everything to change. That which does not change stagnates and
dies.
I have no idea where alt.poly will be five or ten years from now, but if
we're still in the same place talking about the same things, we won't
have made much progress. And that would be rather sad, I think.
So, here's to change. Change is good.
Marcie
Actually i didn't read this newsgroup back then but from what i can tell of
newsgroups that i read in the early 90's this one is a lot more coherent,
with a lot less name calling that seems to have become common in the other
main group i read. Yes the other group is more political in a way, but hey
we've only got one Al...there are five or six on the other group i read who
are way more annoying than him
Marcie
songbird
Cally Soukup wrote:
> Guy W. Thomas <gu...@speakeasy.net> wrote:
>
> > An example of that for me would be science-fiction fandom. When I first
> > became involved in science-fiction, I could talk to another SF reader and we
> > would have a half-dozen books or authors that we could talk about.
> > Nowadays, I could run into somebody who reads science-fiction and not have
> > one book or author in common. Now we have mediafen, trekker's, furryfen,
> > apans, cyberpunks, costumers, etc.
>
> Well, back in the day, it was possible to read everything every
> publisher put out in the SF genre, and still catch up on the backlist.
and in addition to that still read the entire usenet spool.
> Nowadays, it'd be like drinking from a firehose. There's simply no way
> to keep up. And a lot of the younger fans haven't read the backlist,
> because there's too much other stuff to read. So it's a mixed thing.
> I appreciate that there's more good stuff to read, and I solicit
> recommendations from people, while recommending good old stuff myself.
:) ok, so do you like "hard" science fiction? what are your
favorites?
songbird *tweets*
Guy W. Thomas
> Guy W. Thomas wrote:
> > "songbird" <spam...@anthive.com> wrote:
> > > Guy W. Thomas wrote:
> > >
> > > ...
> > > > I'm starting to feel like alt.poly is dissolving. It's been a while
since a
> > > > topic has come up that is interesting to me.
> > >
> > > what is interesting to you?
> >
> > *grin* You got me. Maybe I am the old fogey after all. I like to read
> > things that make me think differently about things.
>
> i do too. the "comet commentary" thread was delightful to me
> for the things i was reading about planet/star formation and
> the various theories involved.
I lost track of that discussion. It got over my head
> ok, so besides things that make you think differently what
> else is interesting to you? from the post you're making i'd
> infer social dynamics, but that's putting words in your mouth
> (me, having watched social dynamics in usenet newsgroups for
> many years find the topic very interesting :) ).
I like reading about how people get along, or not as long as it doesn't get
disrespectful. I have always enjoyed discussions about self-identity and how
one comes to that. So I don't think saying I'm interested in social dynamics
is incorrect. (Why do I write these messy sentences).
> > > > It's been a while, to me, since
> > > > I've read a substantial thread about poly in this group.
> > >
> > > i think the thread about marking is substantial and i like
> > > the example that was shown how communication worked it out (at
> > > least as of a few days ago when i had time to read it all --
> > > now i'm behind again, so i don't know what there might be for
> > > recent news or how the thread has gone).
> > >
> > That's a fair example. That thread had honestly slipped my mind.
>
> it's tough to talk about the same topics repeatedly and keep
> the comments interesting for the people who've read me before.
>
>
> > > > Maybe I haven't
> > > > been paying enough attention. Maybe, I'm just becoming the old guy
in the
> > > > corner complaining about how things were in "my day".
> > >
> > > it comes and goes.
> >
> > That, I have personal experience with in this group. Just feels like to
the
> > going has been longer lately.
>
> sometimes circumstances change and a person wants to find a
> "reason" for feeling different but they don't recognize that
> the reason they feel different is because their circumstances
> have changed.
Good point actually! Having a new sweetie (our first date was in January
this year and our third will be this weekend. So I guess she's still new :-)
that is pretty close to perfect except that she is 500 miles away. Could be
a factor in funk the other day.
> my own experience is that when i have the time to follow this
> group pretty closely i enjoy it, but when i start getting squeezed
> for time i get frustrated at not being able to answer all the
> posts that i'd like to reply to and that makes it tougher for me
> to post during those times. also if i have things to talk about.
> sometimes my life is routine and the sorts of things i'd be posting
> about would be like "i had to use a razor today for the first time
> in many years." or "i was upset that one of my bosses put words in
> my mouth." or "i like it when i can have fun at work because a
> coworker has a good sense of humor". or "flowers!" or *poi*. in
> each of these cases it takes more energy to actually fill out the
> details and the background to make a story enough for it to work
> as a post.
*That* is a very familiar sentiment!
> > > > I really didn't mean
> > > > this to come out as a criticism of this newsgroup. It seems to be
happening
> > > > on the local poly list I administer as well. Being polyamorous
isn't enough
> > > > of a commonality as I think it used to be. Does anyone else feel
this way?
> > >
> > > no, but i'm in a much different circumstance than you are so that
> > > wouldn't surprise me. :) there isn't a local poly community around
> > > here that i have been able to find. the closest i get is a protest
> > > hippy and drug sort of culture and well that doesn't appeal to me
> > > (except perahaps the protest and hippy parts :) ). thus a.p. is still
> > > the place where i can speak and not feel as if i'm among people who
> > > don't know me in some important ways.
> >
> > It's good hear that it is still a place to hang out for you.
>
> it's important to me to be here when i can, but i can't be
> reading/writing here nearly as much as i've done before. so
> that is a change i'm having to muddle through and figure out
> what's going on.
Good luck in figuring that out!
Guy W. Thomas
"Stef" <st...@panix.com> wrote in message
news:b93d3a$egh$1...@reader1.panix.com...
> In article <tLudnRyB0a7...@speakeasy.net>,
> Guy W. Thomas <gu...@speakeasy.net> wrote:
>
> >An example of that for me would be science-fiction fandom. When I first
> >became involved in science-fiction, I could talk to another SF reader and
we
> >would have a half-dozen books or authors that we could talk about.
> >Nowadays, I could run into somebody who reads science-fiction and not
have
> >one book or author in common. Now we have mediafen, trekker's, furryfen,
> >apans, cyberpunks, costumers, etc.
>
> Is this another manifestation of the fact that there's so much more
> information and so each of us is becoming more ignorant?
Actually, I get more concerned as I age that I'll never be able to absorb
enough information to feel comfortable about having an opinion about
anything other than how I personally feel.
> >I'm starting to feel like alt.poly is dissolving. It's been a while since
a
> >topic has come up that is interesting to me. It's been a while, to me,
since
> >I've read a substantial thread about poly in this group. Maybe I haven't
> >been paying enough attention. Maybe, I'm just becoming the old guy in
the
> >corner complaining about how things were in "my day". I really didn't
mean
> >this to come out as a criticism of this newsgroup. It seems to be
happening
> >on the local poly list I administer as well. Being polyamorous isn't
enough
> >of a commonality as I think it used to be. Does anyone else feel this
way?
>
> Sorta-kinda. I thought it was just that I had gotten interested in
> spending time on other things.
You've always been more sensible about such things then I, Stef.
Guy W. Thomas
"Cally Soukup" <sou...@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:b93e11$vq2$1...@wheel1.two14.net...
> Guy W. Thomas <gu...@speakeasy.net> wrote in article
<tLudnRyB0a7...@speakeasy.net>:
>
> > An example of that for me would be science-fiction fandom. When I first
> > became involved in science-fiction, I could talk to another SF reader
and we
> > would have a half-dozen books or authors that we could talk about.
> > Nowadays, I could run into somebody who reads science-fiction and not
have
> > one book or author in common. Now we have mediafen, trekker's, furryfen,
> > apans, cyberpunks, costumers, etc.
>
> Well, back in the day, it was possible to read everything every
> publisher put out in the SF genre, and still catch up on the backlist.
Yep!
> Nowadays, it'd be like drinking from a firehose. There's simply no way
> to keep up. And a lot of the younger fans haven't read the backlist,
> because there's too much other stuff to read. So it's a mixed thing.
> I appreciate that there's more good stuff to read, and I solicit
> recommendations from people, while recommending good old stuff myself.
I do that myself but it often results in more books that I'll never get to
reading.
> (Unfortunately, I lost the recommendation of a new novel about a female
> private eye in the Regency period that I got at Minicon. Darnit.)
>
Sorry I can't help.
Mary Kay
>
>
> I like reading about how people get along, or not as long as it doesn't get
> disrespectful. I have always enjoyed discussions about self-identity and how
> one comes to that. So I don't think saying I'm interested in social dynamics
> is incorrect. (Why do I write these messy sentences).
>
least, that's my explanation for why *I* do it.
Cally Soukup
> :) ok, so do you like "hard" science fiction? what are your
> favorites?
Yes. And Clement's _Mission of Gravity_ is at the top of the list.
Guy W. Thomas
"Mary Kay" <mar...@kare.ws> wrote in message
news:1fujrgc.1fh4x9zw8zrnkN%mar...@kare.ws...
> Guy W. Thomas <gu...@speakeasy.net> wrote:
> >
> >
> > I like reading about how people get along, or not as long as it doesn't
get
> > disrespectful. I have always enjoyed discussions about self-identity and
how
> > one comes to that. So I don't think saying I'm interested in social
dynamics
> > is incorrect. (Why do I write these messy sentences).
> >
> Because you have a complex mind which rejects over-simplification? At
> least, that's my explanation for why *I* do it.
Given I like that answer, I'll use it until further evidence presents
itself. :-)
Thanks Mary Kay!
Ann Burlingham
> I'm starting to feel like alt.poly is dissolving. It's been a while since a
> topic has come up that is interesting to me. It's been a while, to me, since
> I've read a substantial thread about poly in this group.
i feel that way about soc.bi and bisexuality. i've come to the
conclusion that there really isn't much interesting to say about
bisexuality.
seriously, the groups i see as successful in the long run don't stick
too closely to the topic. there may be, once in a while, a new take on
the old subject, but after a while, most regulars have hashed out the
same discussions quite a few times. i've asked people over the years
how they maintain long-running book discussion groups, and it turns
out to be, usually, that they become social groups, with little
emphasis on the books.
-ann, enjoying the poly discussion on soc.motss, currently
What's in a name?
Ann Burlingham <an...@concentric.net> wrote:
>
>i feel that way about soc.bi and bisexuality. i've come to the
>conclusion that there really isn't much interesting to say about
>bisexuality.
Yep, I'm bisexual. Umm hmm. You too, huh?
That seems to be about it. I dropped out of the IU bisexual group because
other than being bisexual, I don't have much in common with most of those
folks. I dropped out of the local BDSM group because other than my
interest in BDSM I didn't have much in common with them, either.
Same with poly. I suspect that the largest thing I share with most of the
folks here is that I am poly. I am so far off the curve for most other
things in life that I don't find many people I really have a lot in common
with. Oh, I have a lot of interests and I can generally find things to
talk about with most folks, but my interests are wide and varied and
often tend to not attract the same types of folks that other interests do.
>seriously, the groups i see as successful in the long run don't
stick
>too closely to the topic. there may be, once in a while, a new take on
>the old subject, but after a while, most regulars have hashed out the
>same discussions quite a few times.
Danger comes when too many regulars in any social group stop talking about
those things with the new people, afterall, to the new people these topics
are fresh and interesting. It's happened on a.p several times over the
years I've been involved. It can make a group seem insular and difficult
to become a part of. The most successful groups I've been involved with
have been ones where a substantial fraction of the people take in new
people and make them feel very welcome and included on a one on one
personal level.
--
Anmar
www.kiva.net/~sseg
David Matthewman
> "Guy W. Thomas" <gu...@speakeasy.net> writes:
>
> > I'm starting to feel like alt.poly is dissolving. It's been a while since a
> > topic has come up that is interesting to me. It's been a while, to me, since
> > I've read a substantial thread about poly in this group.
>
> i feel that way about soc.bi and bisexuality. i've come to the
> conclusion that there really isn't much interesting to say about
> bisexuality.
I think it's easy for someone who's been in 'the bi scene' for ages - as I
believe you have - to feel that. It doesn't stop places like soc.bi,
events like BiCon, and local bi groups from being useful to new people who
are either only just coming to terms with the fact that they are bisexual,
or only just meeting other people who are. At Leicester BiCon last year, I
counted three people who independently told me how fantastic and
liberating it was to be around a group of people where bisexuality was the
norm and simply accepted. While that still happens, I think what we do is
worthwhile, even if we ourselves do not feel that we are benefitting from
it as much as we used to.
I suspect the same applies to poly.
None of this, of course, means that *you* should feel that they're is
interesting stuff to say about bisexuality. I don't feel I'm disagreeing
with you, just telling more of the story as I see it.
--
David Matthewman
Mean Green Dancing Machine
David Matthewman <da...@matthewman.org> wrote:
>
>I think it's easy for someone who's been in 'the bi scene' for ages
>- as I believe you have - to feel that. It doesn't stop places like
>soc.bi, events like BiCon, and local bi groups from being useful to new
>people who are either only just coming to terms with the fact that they
>are bisexual, or only just meeting other people who are. At Leicester
>BiCon last year, I counted three people who independently told me how
>fantastic and liberating it was to be around a group of people where
>bisexuality was the norm and simply accepted. While that still happens,
>I think what we do is worthwhile, even if we ourselves do not feel that
>we are benefitting from it as much as we used to.
>
>I suspect the same applies to poly.
Yup. That's a large part of why I do stick around.
--
--- Aahz <*> (Copyright 2003 by aa...@pobox.com)
Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://www.rahul.net/aahz/
Androgynous poly kinky vanilla queer het Pythonista
Have you heard about the dyslexic god trainer?
Pat Kight
> I think it's easy for someone who's been in 'the bi scene' for ages - as I
> believe you have - to feel that. It doesn't stop places like soc.bi,
> events like BiCon, and local bi groups from being useful to new people who
> are either only just coming to terms with the fact that they are bisexual,
> or only just meeting other people who are. At Leicester BiCon last year, I
> counted three people who independently told me how fantastic and
> liberating it was to be around a group of people where bisexuality was the
> norm and simply accepted. While that still happens, I think what we do is
> worthwhile, even if we ourselves do not feel that we are benefitting from
> it as much as we used to.
>
> I suspect the same applies to poly.
It applies to almost any newsgroup that serves any kind of support
function, I think. There will always be newcomers, some of whom ask a
question and leave and others who stick around and become part of the
group's fabric. There's a sort of broad middle layer who feel an
obligation to greet people, answer questions and who provide much of the
substance of the group's on-topic conversation. And there are the Old
Timers who get tired of hearing the same questions and discussions over
and over, and sometimes wind up with little reason to keep hanging
around. As I said not too many months ago when I left a newsgroup where
I'd been one of those broad-middle types for some time, "when I get to
the point where it would be just as easy to copy-and-paste from my old
messages, it's time to move on."
> None of this, of course, means that *you* should feel that they're is
> interesting stuff to say about bisexuality. I don't feel I'm disagreeing
> with you, just telling more of the story as I see it.
Me, too. (-: While the on-topic content is usually what brings me to a
newsgroup, it's the social relationships I build that keep me there.
--
Pat Kight
kig...@peak.org
Mean Green Dancing Machine
Kris Hasson-Jones <sni...@pacifier.com> wrote:
>On 4 May 2003 22:04:08 -0700, aa...@pobox.com (Mean Green Dancing
>Machine) submitted the following for your consideration:
>
>>In article <61qbbv0kr0dop5rij...@4ax.com>,
>>Kris Hasson-Jones <sni...@pacifier.com> wrote:
>>>On Sun, 4 May 2003 20:25:34 -0700, mar...@kare.ws (Mary Kay)
>>>submitted the following for your consideration:
>>>>
>>>>I miss rasff immensely.
>>>
>>>As a mutual friend of yours and mine posted on my livejournal, if we
>>>all leave, how will it ever turn back into something good? I'm taking
>>>a break from it to let a volatile situation calm down (I hope; at least
>>>*I* will calm down), but there are so many people I wish would come
>>>back--Graydon and Patrick and Jo and so many more I can't think of
>>>right now.
>>
>><pout>
>>;-)
>>(I suspect I'm before your time, actually.)
>
><geekflirt>but I do want you</geekflirt>
<smile> <blush>
>Yeah, I think you're from before my time. But I think you'd contribute
>good stuff I'd want to read, instead of crossposting political stuff to
>other newsgroups.
Probably, yes. Assuming I had time to post, which I don't.
--
--- Aahz <*> (Copyright 2003 by aa...@pobox.com)
Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://www.rahul.net/aahz/
Androgynous poly kinky vanilla queer het Pythonista
Have you heard about the dyslexic god trainer?
Stef
Guy W. Thomas <gu...@speakeasy.net> wrote:
>Actually, I get more concerned as I age that I'll never be able to absorb
>enough information to feel comfortable about having an opinion about
>anything other than how I personally feel.
I already feel that way a lot, but it doesn't stop me from having
opinions anyway. :-)
--
Stef ** avid/sensible/sensual/wise/essential/elemental/tangle
** st...@cat-and-dragon.com <*> http://www.cat-and-dragon.com/stef
**
Anyone who considers protocol unimportant has never dealt with a cat.
-- Lazarus Long (R.A. Heinlein)
Louise
wrote:
>In article <F3ydnW3tmvX...@speakeasy.net>,
>Guy W. Thomas <gu...@speakeasy.net> wrote:
>
>>Actually, I get more concerned as I age that I'll never be able to absorb
>>enough information to feel comfortable about having an opinion about
>>anything other than how I personally feel.
>
>I already feel that way a lot, but it doesn't stop me from having
>opinions anyway. :-)
When I was younger, I remember feeling really reluctant to take stands
on issues because I mighr find out more, change my mind, and thereby
lose face.
Somehow, over the years, I stopped caring quite as much about that.
I still don't like arguing, but at lunch the other day, (in a group
where I tend not to reveal myself much), I took on an acquaintance who
had been making glib pronouncements on an issue, to the point that he
was taken aback and said "I yield". Afterwards I realized that I had
done it in front of the university president. I wasn't sorry.
Louise
Pat Kight
> When I was younger, I remember feeling really reluctant to take stands
> on issues because I mighr find out more, change my mind, and thereby
> lose face.
>
> Somehow, over the years, I stopped caring quite as much about that.
> I still don't like arguing, but at lunch the other day, (in a group
> where I tend not to reveal myself much), I took on an acquaintance who
> had been making glib pronouncements on an issue, to the point that he
> was taken aback and said "I yield". Afterwards I realized that I had
> done it in front of the university president. I wasn't sorry.
Good for you.
I find myself in much the same state these days - slower to anger than I
once was, and pickier about my fights, but fierce on a moment's notice
when the occasion demands. It feels good - like flexing muscles I
haven't used in years.
--
Pat Kight
kig...@peak.org
songbird
> songbird <spam...@anthive.com> wrote:
...
> > :) ok, so do you like "hard" science fiction? what are your
> > favorites?
>
> Yes. And Clement's _Mission of Gravity_ is at the top of the list.
cool! thank you. :) i put a request in for it today so i hope
to read it soon.
songbird *peeps*
Ann Burlingham
> It applies to almost any newsgroup that serves any kind of support
> function, I think. There will always be newcomers, some of whom ask a
> question and leave and others who stick around and become part of the
> group's fabric. There's a sort of broad middle layer who feel an
> obligation to greet people, answer questions and who provide much of
> the substance of the group's on-topic conversation. And there are the
> Old Timers who get tired of hearing the same questions and discussions
> over and over, and sometimes wind up with little reason to keep
> hanging around. As I said not too many months ago when I left a
> newsgroup where I'd been one of those broad-middle types for some
> time, "when I get to the point where it would be just as easy to
> copy-and-paste from my old messages, it's time to move on."
i tend to hang on by my fingernails, and am sometimes rewarded by
bright spots of new people turning up.
-ann, case in point here.....
Teal
I've noticed that over the last year or so, there's been a much decreased
tendency of folk to post "off-topic" anecdotes and talk about non-poly-
related stuff in their lives, compared to how things were a couple of
years ago. I think that LJ might have something to do with that, since the
appeal of posting such personal stuff in a place where it's *explicitly*
on-topic means that folk may be more comfortable posting such stuff there.
I know that has certainly been my tendency of late, especially given that
there seems to be an increasing tendency for folk to post "off-topic"
anecdotes and such here with a slightly apologetic tone. Which is why I
posted the stuff about the herons in my garden and the yabbies (freshwater
crayfish) in my aquarium to my LJ rather than here, as I might have done a
couple of years ago.
With that in mind, I'm finding this current discussion of newsgroup
dynamics and community building really interesting. I am thinking that it
might be a good and useful thing to post some of the "off-topic" anecdotes
that I've been putting in my LJ of recent times here as well, in the
interest of starting interesting conversations and encouraging general
social interaction on alt.poly. Being alt.poly, I expect the conversations
that follow from them will take a different form to those that occur in LJ
- the Usenet format encourages long and rambling discussions that wander
all over the place, and I for one would be happy to see more of those here
on topics other than politics.
What do folk think? Is that an approach that you think might be useful? Do
you *want* to read stuff like that, from me or others?
Teal
--
http://tealspace.chromatic-dragonfly.com http://teal7.livejournal.com
Mock him not for a heap of eels; speculate never on the unfortunate
experiences with smurf puppets, boiled Listerine, squeaky toys, badly
attached electrodes, and anchovy marmalade that have made him his
present self... - Graydon Saunders
Pat Kight
>>newsgroup where I'd been one of those broad-middle types for some
>>time, "when I get to the point where it would be just as easy to
>>copy-and-paste from my old messages, it's time to move on."
> i tend to hang on by my fingernails, and am sometimes rewarded by
> bright spots of new people turning up.
>
> -ann, case in point here.....
Why ... *gosh*. What a very nice thing to say.
--
Pat Kight
bright point of my day, that
kig...@peak.org
Ann Burlingham
> With that in mind, I'm finding this current discussion of newsgroup
> dynamics and community building really interesting. I am thinking that it
> might be a good and useful thing to post some of the "off-topic" anecdotes
> that I've been putting in my LJ of recent times here as well, in the
> interest of starting interesting conversations and encouraging general
> social interaction on alt.poly. Being alt.poly, I expect the conversations
> that follow from them will take a different form to those that occur in LJ
> - the Usenet format encourages long and rambling discussions that wander
> all over the place, and I for one would be happy to see more of those here
> on topics other than politics.
>
> What do folk think? Is that an approach that you think might be useful? Do
> you *want* to read stuff like that, from me or others?
yes. but i've always been a "usenet *is* my livejournal" person - i
bring all of me to usenet, and find my community here.
off-topic and interesting and personal, though, beats off-topic and
pseudo-thoughtful and politically charged, imo. (i think you're aiming
for the former, and say, yes, please.)
Guy W. Thomas
> In article <F3ydnW3tmvX...@speakeasy.net>,
> Guy W. Thomas <gu...@speakeasy.net> wrote:
>
> >Actually, I get more concerned as I age that I'll never be able to absorb
> >enough information to feel comfortable about having an opinion about
> >anything other than how I personally feel.
>
> I already feel that way a lot, but it doesn't stop me from having
> opinions anyway. :-)
I suppose I do too, but I don't feel comfortable about it or is that my
recovering catholicism showing? :-)
Guy W. Thomas
"Louise" <lou...@wellingtonhouse.org> wrote in message
news:bf2mbvgcigq17ek66...@4ax.com...
*applause*!
Ryk
<3EBB101C...@peak.org>
Pat Kight <kig...@peak.org> wrote:
>Louise wrote:
>
>> When I was younger, I remember feeling really reluctant to take stands
>> on issues because I mighr find out more, change my mind, and thereby
>> lose face.
A far more effective way to lose face is to fail to change one's mind
;-)
>> Somehow, over the years, I stopped caring quite as much about that.
>> I still don't like arguing, but at lunch the other day, (in a group
>> where I tend not to reveal myself much), I took on an acquaintance who
>> had been making glib pronouncements on an issue, to the point that he
>> was taken aback and said "I yield". Afterwards I realized that I had
>> done it in front of the university president. I wasn't sorry.
>
>Good for you.
I agree, even though she picked an easy target....
Ryk
Miche
wrote:
Huh, I'm much the same way these days.
Is this what maturity feels like?
Miche
--
If you want to end war and stuff you got to sing loud.
-- Arlo Guthrie, "Alice's Restaurant"
Pat Kight
Vicki Rosenzweig
>
>With that in mind, I'm finding this current discussion of newsgroup
>dynamics and community building really interesting. I am thinking that it
>might be a good and useful thing to post some of the "off-topic" anecdotes
>that I've been putting in my LJ of recent times here as well, in the
>interest of starting interesting conversations and encouraging general
>social interaction on alt.poly. Being alt.poly, I expect the conversations
>that follow from them will take a different form to those that occur in LJ
>- the Usenet format encourages long and rambling discussions that wander
>all over the place, and I for one would be happy to see more of those here
>on topics other than politics.
>
>What do folk think? Is that an approach that you think might be useful? Do
>you *want* to read stuff like that, from me or others?
>
I'd like it.
--
Vicki Rosenzweig
v...@redbird.org | http://www.redbird.org
"We have met the enemy, and he is us." -- Walt Kelly
Stef
Guy W. Thomas <gu...@speakeasy.net> wrote:
>
>"Stef" <st...@panix.com> wrote in message
>news:b9et83$fge$1...@reader1.panix.com...
>> In article <F3ydnW3tmvX...@speakeasy.net>,
>> Guy W. Thomas <gu...@speakeasy.net> wrote:
>>
>> >Actually, I get more concerned as I age that I'll never be able to absorb
>> >enough information to feel comfortable about having an opinion about
>> >anything other than how I personally feel.
>>
>> I already feel that way a lot, but it doesn't stop me from having
>> opinions anyway. :-)
>
>I suppose I do too, but I don't feel comfortable about it or is that my
>recovering catholicism showing? :-)
I wasn't raised catholic but I felt more uncomfortable about having
opinions in the past than I do now. I also felt more uncomfortable about
not having them. I think I've decided that it isn't very important
whether or not I have an opinion. I'd better watch out because that's a
sign of recovering internet addiction! :-)
--
Stef ** avid/sensible/sensual/wise/essential/elemental/tangle
** st...@cat-and-dragon.com <*> http://www.cat-and-dragon.com/stef
**
Before using any device which transfers energy directly into my body,
I will install a surge suppressor.
-- When I become an Evil Overlord (http://minievil.eviloverlord.com/)
songbird
> "songbird" <spam...@anthive.com> wrote:
> > Guy W. Thomas wrote:
> > > songbird wrote:
...
> > > > what is interesting to you?
> > >
> > > *grin* You got me. Maybe I am the old fogey after all. I like to read
> > > things that make me think differently about things.
> >
> > i do too. the "comet commentary" thread was delightful to me
> > for the things i was reading about planet/star formation and
> > the various theories involved.
>
> I lost track of that discussion. It got over my head
*nod*
...read, but not much i can respond to at the moment...
> > it's important to me to be here when i can, but i can't be
> > reading/writing here nearly as much as i've done before. so
> > that is a change i'm having to muddle through and figure out
> > what's going on.
>
> Good luck in figuring that out!
it's going ok lately, i've been lucky in having some early
getting out of work nights (that i can't always count on
happening) which gives me extra time. :) which means i'm
only a few hundred posts behind instead of a few thousand.
songbird *peeps*
Guy W. Thomas
"songbird" <spam...@anthive.com> wrote in message
news:ba9he7$qjfnt$1...@ID-138926.news.dfncis.de...
Due to some suddenly flaky newsgroup access, I don't want to *think* about
how far behind I am!
--
Guy W. Thomas
San Leandro, CA
http://www.xango.org http://stonebender.livejournal.com/
songbird
...
> I've noticed that over the last year or so, there's been a much decreased
> tendency of folk to post "off-topic" anecdotes and talk about non-poly-
> related stuff in their lives, compared to how things were a couple of
> years ago. I think that LJ might have something to do with that, since the
> appeal of posting such personal stuff in a place where it's *explicitly*
> on-topic means that folk may be more comfortable posting such stuff there.
not for me. :) what i post is pretty much whatever is coming
up and what is in response to others. all of my on-line newsgroup
writing is limited by how much time i have for it. the more i
feel a time squeeze the more likely i'm going to try to post on-topic
stuff and reply to new people.
> I know that has certainly been my tendency of late, especially given that
> there seems to be an increasing tendency for folk to post "off-topic"
> anecdotes and such here with a slightly apologetic tone. Which is why I
> posted the stuff about the herons in my garden and the yabbies (freshwater
> crayfish) in my aquarium to my LJ rather than here, as I might have done a
> couple of years ago.
it seems like there has been the OT vs topical sort of pressure
here even from the early days. i've not seen anyone complain lately
about the amount of off-topic posting.
> With that in mind, I'm finding this current discussion of newsgroup
> dynamics and community building really interesting. I am thinking that it
> might be a good and useful thing to post some of the "off-topic" anecdotes
> that I've been putting in my LJ of recent times here as well, in the
> interest of starting interesting conversations and encouraging general
> social interaction on alt.poly. Being alt.poly, I expect the conversations
> that follow from them will take a different form to those that occur in LJ
> - the Usenet format encourages long and rambling discussions that wander
> all over the place, and I for one would be happy to see more of those here
> on topics other than politics.
i think injecting threads works only to the extent that you're
willing to invest yourself in them personally. when someone posts
a link to an article i may or may not go take a look, but mostly
i'll skip it because i have enough to read already. however, if
the person does some decent analytical work or talks about something
personally relevant then it's more likely i'll be engaged by that
and might followup.
> What do folk think? Is that an approach that you think might be useful? Do
> you *want* to read stuff like that, from me or others?
i think to the extent that a post comes across as forced
and words taken out of context then i'll probably skip it.
songbird *peep*