X-Message-Number: 21145
From: 
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 11:40:27 EST
Subject: politics

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We sometimes call politics "the art of the possible," and in that sense all 
of life might be considered politics. But just a tiny bit of common sense 
should tell us that most "political" questions, most of the time, should be 
out of bounds on Cryonet.

This is a tiny forum, with probably only a few hundred new visitors per 
month, and our main concern is to get them involved, as well as updating 
regulars on developments and discussing practical questions. If these new 
people run into political rants, or get the impression that we are just a 
bunch of (fill in what disgusts you most), then potential gains have been 
lost.

By the same token, group morale or any sense of comradeship will tend to 
evaporate if some of us see that others of us are (even if only in some 
respects) just plain assholes. 

It is NOT permissible to claim "on topic" because your political issue is a 
"matter of life and death." Most issues are, in one way or another, to some 
degree. But the main point, once more, is that the few of us are likely to 
make a difference ONLY in our own bailiwick, and if we throw Mr. Murphy's 
overalls into Mrs. Murphy's chowder, that will not help either the overalls 
or the chowder.

Robert Ettinger

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