Re: Brett Glass's postings to mailing.freebsd.chat

[Brett Glass <brett@lariat.org>]

At 09:49 AM 3/9/99 -0500, Wandered Inn wrote:
 
>This is complete crap.  Your posting suggested the formation of 'several
>teams out of those who are active on these lists.'  

Exactly. In other words, out of existing enthusiasts.

>You go on to list
>the 'teams,' the first of which is the 'Raving Loonies.'  

You got it.

>You are not
>suggesting that these folks 'focus...energy' rather you're suggesting
>that these people be something they aren't. 

If they aren't fanatics, they won't last a week in this role.

>Comments like, "You get to
>go totally over the top..." and 'starting flame wars, bashing and
>baiting.'  These are instructional comments.  

They're supportive of the natural activities of the usual lunatic 
fringe. 

>They make people think, "I'm not going anywhere near that stuff." 
>People are not stupid.  They don't care for people who go overboard in
>promoting anything.  It's not attention and excitement you get, it's
>alienation.

Not out there in the real world. In the real world, people think, "Boy,
that guy is completely over the edge! What could possibly be so good
as to inspire that sort of utterly unbridled fanaticism?" The fanatics
probably won't convince them to wear foam rubber hunks of cheese on 
their heads (as some football fanatics do), but they'll get attention.

Remember the etymology of the word "enthusiasm."

--Brett Glass