Re: TFM : troubled times. (fwd)

Dennis Clark (dennis@nospam.ilanet.slnsw.gov.au)
Wed, 6 Mar 1996 09:49:33 +1000 (EST)

In previous mail, 3 Mustafahs 3 wrote:
>
> We have had a complaint about parts of TFM from a new member of ProgSoc.
> I don't think that's very nice, considering how much we give our members.
> So far, she has complained to:
>
> "Dean, Student Association, Ombudsman, University Ombudsman, Equal Opportunity
> MPs. (I think the VC) These are the ones I know of. They are all ringing me
> at the moment." - Jenny
>

...and all this before even approaching us about it (this is the first
time I've heard about it). I don't think this is fair at all.

> Rather, they are all ringing Jenny Edwards. I intend to send this on to
> those bodies, but don't have all their email addresses -- can anyone help?
>
> This is one part complained about:
>
> >Here is an example .sig
> >
> >-- Hugh Hefner ( hhefner@nospam.playboy.mansion.com )
> >Gimmie some sugar, baby!
> >
> >(See? That quote isn't funny if you don't know which film it's from ---
> >and dubiously so if you do.)
>
> And the other:
>
> >\item French Broadway Cafe. The location of choice when editing TFM,
> > marking assignments, going a bit wet about French girls\ldots There's
> > also the French Markets Cafe in Building 5. Nathalie and Alain are
> > really nice people, as are all their staff.
>
> Now, the first is just plainly inoffensive - only a moron could take
> offence; and the second is a personal ancedote and I, and the girl,
> aren't offended.
>
> comments? Jenny thinks we should edit TFm to avoid erm... hassle.
>

The University can't be in the business of protecting every individual's
sensibilities: if it were, then it wouldn't, for example, allow much
of the pro-homosexual material being posted around the campus (I'm sure
a lot of ppl find it offensive, or at least off-putting).

I find the stated examples only marginally sexist, and as worthy of
complaint as one of the TV ads for Bolle sunglasses. As a member, she
is most welcome to add her own paragraph on a cafe where girls can get
wet about cute guys in tight shorts, if she wants to "even the score".

--------------------------------+-----------------------------------
Dennis Clark | Email: dennis@nospam.ilanet.slnsw.gov.au
Programmer, ILANET | Tel: +61 2 230 1649
State Library of NSW | Fax: +61 2 232 8701
"What a tangled WWW we weave!"