Date:         Tue, 11 May 2004 09:36:48 -0600
Reply-To:     Gnarlodious <gnarlodious@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Gnarlodious <gnarlodious@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Thoughts on Larry, the list, and State Your Ages!
In-Reply-To:  <Pine.BSF.4.58.0405111026120.93283@gull.us>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Entity Jeffrey Earl spoke thus:

> Not long ago, the Internet was hailed as the Great
> Connector, but in many respects it has provided new
> and speedier ways to insult and disparage vast numbers
> of faceless strangers. With a few hearty (if not
> well-placed) keystrokes, one can distribute to
> hundreds of cyber-friends and -neighbors the kind of
> rude and abusive comments one would never utter to
> someone sharing a campfire or a six-pack with you.

I don't remember any abuse here, and it's not meant to be a "virtual
campfire" or revolve around celebrities.

When I subscribed to this list I didn't think it would become a Cult of
Personality. This unconditional devotion to certain names and the attack
mode of anyone who disagrees with a cononized viewpoint disturbes me. I
don't remember any statement declaring anyone here as having a godlike
status.

We are surrounded by a government and media that propagandizes EVERYTHING!
We are told by our president "You're either with us or against us". We are
pulled into Fascism every time we hear the news and Groupthink Mind Control
promises us happiness if we just believe everything we hear.

I don't believe it and never will. Dissent is good and healthy. Everyone has
the right to say what they want, even if a vocal minority interpret it as
negative and critical. Indeed, I WANT to hear opposing viewpoints! Anyone
who blunders into a controversy but doesn't want to hear both sides is like
the emperor who wears no clothes.

> For better or for worse, perhaps there really is a
> virtual community here, after all ..

Maybe anyone who disagrees with the "canonized viewpoint" is not a member of
the community. if so, I'll gladly unsubscribe. Independent thinking is more
important to me than being a member of a "virtual campfire", and there are
other sources for Vanagon technical information.

-- Gnarlie
http://www.Gnarlodious.com/Vanagon/Vanagon.html