Hey, some of you, cut it out!--God damn it, please

[Unknown User]

andrew at cee.hw.ac.uk wrote:
> So, rather than adopting the apocalyptic apres-moi-le-deluge stance
> displayed above perhaps you could do your best to shoulder some of
> that responsibility and think before you stuff endless reams of crap
> into other people's mailboxes. The more you hold off and think before
> posting, the more focussed you make your mail notes, the better the
> example you set other posters, then the longer we can all continue to
> make good use this list as a resource.
> 
> Andrew Dinn
andrew--a few words and i promise to let it go (notice i have trimmed
previous messages): as i have read over this somewhat ongoing argument
about economy of reference, i have been two parts "he has a point there"
(meaning you) and two parts "his tone is offensive, elitist,
condescending. yes, i'm glad there aren't busloads of fratboys running
through the list and making fag jokes, but there's a fine line between
the request for intelligent, centered conversation and pompous
gate-keeping. the thing about 'go get trained on how to trim your
messages so we don't have to deal' was unfriendly and unwelcoming in
tone, but the tips for trimming messages at the end were useful,
generous advice. i too feel like there are a few wrenches in the
machinery here, but look at what we're discussing--PYNCHON! he's writing
about a lot of these types of issues. if we were to sit back in a
sterile, overly-academic environment to talk about tp's works, we'd be
removing ourselves from the context of his writings. in short, you have
a good point, but i can't help but cringe at your tone.
ray