[GreenKeys] "off topic"

[Don Robert House]

Bill,

I apologize for contributing several messages that do not concern 
Teletype nor Radio Teletype.  I have been on this list for many years 
and consider most of the active communicators to be my friends.  On 
occasion I have uploaded items that are general in nature but are 
connected to subjects for which Teletype machines are indirectly 
associated with.

Communications is the driving force behind the advancement of 
humankind.  As you know many machines were used by military and naval 
forces (a connection of interest)   Many were used in newspaper 
publishing and radio (and television) broadcasting.   Rules 
surrounding what is permitted to be broadcast (or telecast) is a 
subject that is connected with the interest of many list subscribers.

On occasion these subjects do take off on a tangent that becomes 
inappropriate, but to limit the content of all GREENKEYS 
transmissions to strict technical content regarding only 
Teletypewriter directly connected subject matter seems a bit harsh. 
I have seen For Sale postings for items that have nothing to do with 
Teletype.  Items such as old light bulbs, general radio receiving and 
transmitting equipment.  In the strict sense these items would fit 
the mission of other lists, such as Boat Anchors or other Internet 
reflectors, more so than Greenkeys.

Methinks we need to be a little more tolerant of our fellow 
GREENKEYERS interests.  After all it is really simple to press the 
delete key if you have no interest in the subject matter.  Too bad my 
television set does not have an instant delete button.  I guess it 
does in the form of the power button on the remote, but by the time I 
punch it the image has already been received.  Not so with email. 
Each subject that is only indirectly connected to TTY and RTTY are 
announced in the subject line or the first line of the message. 
Warning you that you do not have to read the message.

Perhaps it would have been just fine if CBS had put up a sign warning 
viewers that "Janet Jackson is about to show off her right breast" 
the viewer could have easily pushed the power button on the remote.

Regarding the color of the keys on a Teletype machines.  Many of our 
machines keys are green, but many are also gray, black, ivory and 
white.

May peace and prosperity stay with you all the days of your life.

Yours in the spirit of communications,

Don
-- 
---------------------------------------------------
Don R. House
4716 Patty Lane, Ringwood, IL 60072
Tel: 815-653-0683
FAX: 815-653-0684
*****************************************
North American Data Communications Dept. of CMA
URL: http://www.nadcomm.org
Computer Museum of America (CMA)
URL: http://www.computer-museum.org