----- Original Message ----- From: "Dan Minette" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Brin-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, April 01, 2002 6:01 PM Subject: Re: Civility request
> > > I have an experiment to suggest. One could peruse the Usenet and see if > there is a correlation between the use of explatives and rude posts. I > would suggest that there is. I would further suggests that lists that > discourage their use have a lower probability of flames. In short, I > suggest that, while there is not a 1 to 1 relationship (there can be > extremely rude posts that contain no single word that is objectionable in > any way), the correlation still exists. > Interesting idea Dan, but I think you will get results that will be hard to draw solid conclusions from. If I may get all anecdotal on you :-), my experience tells me that profanity is symptomatic. I can think of a few newsgroups offhand where the language is pretty free, yet there is little flaming or even anger. (See alt.music.mike-keneally) I think you would also need to filter for trolls to get results that are worth anything. There is an entire class of people on Usenet whose sole purpose in life seem to be to intentionally provoke anger or outrage. (See alt.music.jethro-tull) Of course there are newsgroups that will give you exactly what you are thinking about. (See alt.politics.libertarian) xponent Cursive Writing Maru rob
