The descent of USENET
6 March 2003, 9:20 PM

You know, even once in a while I really miss the USENET environment of the very early 1990s.

I cut my Internet teeth there in various soc.culture.* and rec.arts.star.trek.* groups. I met friends that I still have today through USENET newsgroups, and I learned to debate, to "speak up", and even how to be a leader through some of my early experiences there. Many of the groups were even half-way warm and friendly, and most were full of useful information.

That's rarely the case nowadays. There's still a few pockets of decent conversation - alt.tv.smallville, alt.fan.pern and rec.food.recipes are still pockets of decent conversation and useful information. But on the whole, many of the groups I frequented way-back-when are totally useless.

Take soc.culture.pakistan for example. Back then I could post a question about Pakistani foods or music, and even in the midst of flame-wars, heated debate and cross-posting shenanigans there'd be SOMEONE who'd answer the question - publicly even. It'd at least turn into a few posts discussion before descending into a flame war. (Everything on that newsgroups descended into flame-war. You could sneeze and it'd turn into a flame-war.) And many people would email you privately with answers or really and thoughtful discussion.

So, even though I haven't read the group in over 3 years now I posted a question anyway - testing the waters to see if there was still a heart beating somewhere in the midst of the soc.culture.* groups.

> "Fazia Begum Rizvi" wrote in message
> >
> > Does anyone here know of a good online resource - like some sort of
> > directory - where I can find an experienced mehndi artist local to Texas
> > (USA).
> >
> >
> > ad astra,
> > Faz
> >

> > ____/| Fazia Begum Rizvi
> > \ o.O| Email: fazia@io.com
> > =(_)= Website: http://www.io.com/~fazia/
> > U Weblog: http://www.faziarizvi.net/

HA!

I got my answer. It took only three hours for the nasties to attack:

From: harmony (aka@hotmail.com)
Subject: Re: Looking for Mehndi Artist in Texas
Newsgroups: soc.culture.pakistan, soc.culture.indian
Date: 2003-03-05 16:49:32 PST

I know one, but they don't serve packies.

---

From: Nusrat Rizvi (rizvioct@optonline.net)
Subject: Re: Looking for Mehndi Artist in Texas
Newsgroups: soc.culture.pakistan, soc.culture.indian
Date: 2003-03-05 20:13:41 PST

This is an art form associated with females or men who are feminized.
I suggest you call upon any gentlemen from Punjab to perform this
service. I am sure you will be most surprised by their dexterity.

---

From: Gulshan Khan (g_khan25@yahoo.com)
Subject: Re: Looking for Mehndi Artist in Texas
Newsgroups: soc.culture.pakistan, soc.culture.indian
Date: 2003-03-06 10:43:09 PST

Nusrat Rizvi wrote in message

> > This is an art form associated with females or men who are feminized.
> I suggest you call upon any gentlemen from Punjab to perform this
> service. I am sure you will be most surprised by their dexterity.
>

Yeah leave it to this pimp for his pearls of wisdom.... Seems like
hazaar saal ka solid sulla swinging joota has taken its toll...

At least the last person posted a link about mehndi, but he still didn't answer MY actual question. Other than these lovely examples of humanity, I've had no-one else reply.

I guess it's official then. The soc.culture.* newsgroups are good for *nothing* but hatred anymore.

What a waste.