[geeks] just for you guys....

[Amy]

On Sat, 13 Apr 2002, Michael Conlen wrote:
> I'm really, really interested in how this is cruel, or offensive. Off topic
> I can see, inappropriate for the list, sure, but cruel and offensive, I just
> don't get it.

you don't have to. if you choose to go around shortsighted and ignorant of
others' feelings your entire life then that's your choice and i don't
have a problem with it. if, however, you start inflicting that upon others
then i'll pretty much start mouthing off. that's more or less what bill
did, what others have done, what you did as well although at least you had
the politeness to ask if you had somehow just missed something somewhere
(i think you did).

> It's important for a guy to know what he's getting in to, I mean, I'd hate
> to make a cup check and not get what I'm expecting.

that wasn't the point of it. see, first thing bill does this morning is he
posts a url more or less making sport of both women and men who might
happen to have androgenic qualities, whether naturally occuring or artificially
provided. next thing you know, all the closet homophobics and shallow
bigots (and its a small number, about 5 or 6) start piping up with their
response/results and some really catty and mean remarks were made.
generally the people who made said remarks have been this way before--it didnt
shock or surprise me, it saddened me. but just because something doesnt
shock or surprise me doesnt mean i (or anyone else) have to put up with it
on a mailing list anfd machine i help run, especially when its coming from
people who i generally put a lot of stock in as far as their intelligence and
kindness.

it's cruel to make fun of someone for this, for any visual quality such as
this. usually if it's done repetitively over a long term period it causes
extreme depression, anxiety, hiding from life simply because of what a person
just happens to be or to look like. its a cruel thing to knowingly and
willingly push someone into this kind of state just for the bullshit excuse
of 'fun'.

all i'm asking is for 5 or 6 people to grow the fuck up and get out of
junior high. really. the ones who don't will probably just leave over
time--probably rationalizing their storming off point of view as "it's
just the internet, it don't mean shit". i'm sorry, but i can't delude myself
like that. i'd rather keep a little hope that people can see where things
are wrong when it's pointed out and fix them and everything might be a
little more sunny-side up. :)

--a
p.s., sorry this was so long, but i enjoy long discussions and i have
trouble summarizing.