[Lindengardens] Two new policies

[Anna Bershteyn]

Hi neighbors,

2 topics in one:
(1) getting together to hang out
(2) flame wars

(1)

In the wake of our building's first flame war, perhaps we'd like to
get together for drinks and finally meet each other. I still haven't
met some of the newer residents! Email me some dates in the near
future that would work for you, and I'll figure out an agreeable time.

As for a place, we could chill in the front yard (I've had success
making hot dogs in the oven and having a "pretend bbq") or we could go
get dinner somewhere nearby -- there's a place up Ceder St. called Yak
& Yeti that I've heard great things about, ditto a Thai place in
Porter. Let me know what you'd prefer.

(2)

I'm not sure if the term is used outside of MIT: a "flame war" is an
exchange of offensive emails typically escalating over several
iterations until the perpetrators get bored with it, or the emails get
so over-the-top that the comedy diffuses the anger that originally
started the flame.

Every high-occupancy building I've lived in in this area has had flame
wars. Some people find them therapeutic, others annoying, others find
the level of offensiveness offensive. We all have difficult and
complicated things going on in our lives, and in the uninhibited
setting of an email list, our attempts at outreach and self-expression
can come off sounding a bit potent. My personal opinion is that our
building is chock full of cool people but suffers from a lack of
community, and that it's easy to assume the worst of someone you've
never met before. Hopefully we can work toward breaking down the
barriers and getting to know each other soon.

Anyway, I've seen most buildings deal with flames by creating 2 lists,
one for strictly necessary messages (e.g., moving cars out of the
parking lot) and a second for social invitations, silly jokes, flame
wars, etc. I'd hate to create yet *another* barrier to communication
in the building given that we're already strapped for common space to
interact, but it seems like I'll probably end up needing to make 2
separate mailing lists for those of us who are just too swamped to
handle the deluge of email. (This will soon include me, as I have 6
weeks to write my thesis!)

Let me know if you have an opinion on this (no need to cc the list),
and happy flaming!

 Anna

On Wed, Jun 9, 2010 at 10:40 PM, Alex Ramos <alexisramos at gmail.com> wrote:
> Wow; that was really offensive.
> I think it's pretty obvious that any kind of second-hand smoke is
> detrimental to one's health.  This isn't an exhaustive study but here's some
> primary literature showing that outdoor secondhand smoke decreases health in
> children (Figure 2 specifically).
> -Alex
>
> On Wed, Jun 9, 2010 at 9:29 PM, Ona Kondrotas <ona.faster.k at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> Dear rdhayman,
>> I am flabbergasted that you even know the word 'balderdash' whilst
>> misspelling 'stoopid' (correctly spelled 'stupid')(. And sir: I don't ask
>> stupid questions; I merely encounter stupidity and banal people or, perhaps,
>> fascist population groups. Thus it was
>>
>> Speaking of, I would challenge anyone to show me a conclusive, exhausative
>> study indicating that outdoor second-hand smoke is in any way harmful to
>> you. Whether it is 'offensive' or not is irrelevant.
>>
>> you all sound like fags, and I don't mAean like the gay friends of mine
>> who insist on smoking on the roof. at least they're not, say, evegetarians
>> or nine-to-fivers.
>>
>> love to all,
>> -ona k.
>>
>> On Wed, Jun 9, 2010 at 11:04 AM, <rdhayman at aim.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> You don't sound bitchy. I mean, for fuck's sake, "can we smoke on the
>>> roof?" Balderdash! What a stoopid question. Who gives a shit if most of ur
>>> friends smoke. Gimme a break.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Candy Malina <candyjoy at earthlink.net>
>>> To: lindengardens <lindengardens at mit.edu>
>>> Sent: Wed, Jun 9, 2010 10:50 am
>>> Subject: Re: [Lindengardens] Two new policies
>>>
>>> No one should be walking on the roof; it is not good for the surface of
>>> it, and will mean that we have to replace the roof sooner, which is a big
>>> expense.
>>>
>>> Common areas would be the hallways and foyer (and laundry and storage
>>> rooms), the parking lot and the front yard up to the sidewalk, which I
>>> imagine is the line of our property.  Your unit is your private area; people
>>> can smoke in there.
>>>
>>> (I am not writing as the "official" word...but I do know that the roof is
>>> supposed to be off limits, and as an owner, I am invested in its lasting as
>>> long as it can.  And I am personally very bothered by smoke coming into my
>>> unit through the windows, or having to walk through cigarette smoke in the
>>> hallways.)
>>>
>>> Thanks for your cooperation!
>>>
>>> Candy
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Ona Kondrotas
>>> Sent: Jun 9, 2010 9:54 AM
>>> To: lindengardens at mit.edu
>>> Subject: Re: [Lindengardens] Two new policies
>>>
>>> Is the roof a common area?
>>> Where do the delinations of the outdoor common areas end? All my friends
>>> smoke.
>>> Yours,
>>> -ona k.
>>>
>>> On Tue, Jun 8, 2010 at 10:30 PM, Charlie Denison <cdenison at comcast.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hello Linden Gate owners and tenants,
>>>>
>>>> As a result of yesterday's Condo Association Annual Meeting, we now have
>>>> two new policies regarding common areas:
>>>>
>>>> 1. Grilling is no longer allowed in the outdoor common areas, except
>>>> with the permission of the Board of Trustees
>>>> 2. Smoking is not allowed in the outdoor or indoor common areas
>>>>
>>>> If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or one of the
>>>> other Trustees. Thanks!
>>>>
>>>> Charlie
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Lindengardens mailing list
>>>> Lindengardens at mit.edu
>>>> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/lindengardens
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>> Lindengardens mailing list
>>>
>>>
>>> Lindengardens at mit.edu
>>>
>>>
>>> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/lindengardens
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Lindengardens mailing list
>>> Lindengardens at mit.edu
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>>>
>>
>>
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>
>
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