"Ken Lucke" wrote in message
...
In article , Jay Beckman
wrote:
Charles,

It's not just this newsgroup.

Usenet in general seems to be going through some kind of bizarre
sociological sunspot cycle.

I subscribe to photo groups and groups related to flying and being a
private
pilot. I realize that Usenet is the electronic equivalent of the wild,
wild
west but all of these groups are just baraged with the most inane crap
these
days. Trolls, baiting, name calling and a complete lack of (and
disregard
for) educated opinions that foster discussion. Instead, all I see lately
is
"I'm right, you're wrong and F*ck You if you disagree..."


And this is different from how usenet has always been.... how?

Can't speak for all of usenet but the rec.aviation.* newsgroups have
traditionally been an oasis of calm, rational, helpful discussions (election
years not withstanding...) against the sea of insanity that can be and often
is usenet in general. But 2006 has seen the s/n meter just peg with
inumerable OT bombardments, cross posting to and from the most illogical and
nonsensical other groups and a general disregard for the respective charters
of each group.

I've been on usenet for a fairly long time and until this year, I'd never
even established a kill file. This year, I'm having to wrack up names
faster than Death himself.

The photo groups have also been (by and large, IMO) relatively sane by
comparison but it's getting so that you can't even ask a basic photo
question without the dicussion decending into OT flames.

Maybe I'm just getting old but those who play the online equivalent of class
clown(s) (every group has at least one and regulars know who they are) who
run on about the same old crap over and over and over again have ceased
being funny.

I really do think maybe the OP is correct... There just isn't anything
worth talking (typing) about any more.

Jay Beckman
Chandler, AZ
www.pbase.com/flyingphotog