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Grex > Coop6 > #19: Grex's listing in Michigan Computer User |  |
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| Author |
Message |
| 25 new of 206 responses total. |
robh
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response 175 of 206:
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Feb 25 12:26 UTC 1995 |
As I recall, in one of the earliest responses popcorn did
indeed call and ask whether we would be acceptable. He said
as long as we didn't have a "gay-lezbo pick-up area", we
would be okay.
So I created a gay and lesbian pick-up item in the Sexuality
conference.
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carson
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response 176 of 206:
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Feb 25 12:34 UTC 1995 |
sure enough... and it's right there in #0, too.
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chelsea
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response 177 of 206:
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Feb 25 13:07 UTC 1995 |
I don't understand why this is even being debated. If this
publication said they'd allow us to pay some bucks and be
included in the listing but only if we promised to not
be a place which encouraged niggers to hang out... Would
we still be trying to find a way to qualify?
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robh
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response 178 of 206:
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Feb 25 13:40 UTC 1995 |
Preach on, chelsea! >8)
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ajax
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response 179 of 206:
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Feb 25 15:19 UTC 1995 |
One difference I see is that they aren't asking that anybody be
excluded. To the contrary, the statement says you *don't* exclude
kids (i.e. "adult category," meaning you need to be 18 or over).
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robh
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response 180 of 206:
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Feb 25 15:44 UTC 1995 |
But they are asking that homosexuals be prevented from discussing
things of interest to gays, no?
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jep
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response 181 of 206:
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Feb 25 17:45 UTC 1995 |
Oops, pardon me. It's been a long discussion since it was started in
October! (-: Let 'em rot. Chelsea most recently, and the majority of
this item as I recall it, is right on target.
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ajax
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response 182 of 206:
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Feb 25 18:48 UTC 1995 |
Re 180, nobody has even hinted in this item that Grex should change
in any way to meet MCU's policy, so they won't "prevent" anything on
Grex we don't want prevented.
But like it or not, currently, Grex *does* conform to the *intent*
of MCU's "standards," IMHO. Word play aside, if you look at the
intent of the written policy, or talk with the editor for
clarification as in #0, we are in all likelihood MCU-calibre "squeaky
clean". (Of course, that could easily change in the future).
I do find the editor's apparent bigotry offensive, and if I opposed
the listing, that would be my biggest reason.
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sidhe
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response 183 of 206:
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Feb 26 14:14 UTC 1995 |
I do not believe my eyes.. do we have a concensus forming here??
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ajax
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response 184 of 206:
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Feb 26 15:33 UTC 1995 |
Well, not a unanimous one, I said *if* I opposed ;). But most who've
expressed opinions have been against, which I'd call a consensus.
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srw
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response 185 of 206:
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Feb 27 07:47 UTC 1995 |
I'm not against a listing in MCU. I kinda think everyone's overreacting.
I think we fit their definition. I don't feel strongly that we need to
be in MCU, though, so I'm not going to make a big deal about it.
I'm put off by the $35 charge more than the requirement that we not
contain a special adult-only section.
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popcorn
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response 186 of 206:
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Feb 27 12:15 UTC 1995 |
This response has been erased.
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lilmo
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response 187 of 206:
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Feb 28 06:53 UTC 1995 |
My concerns are merelly misinterpretation, and the fact that we should
probabllly be making sure that we can accomodate the new users, and have
everything working that should be (e.g., Usenet) before we advertise
extensively for new users
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nephi
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response 188 of 206:
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Feb 28 08:16 UTC 1995 |
And that is if we even want to get new users at a faster rate . . . .
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sidhe
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response 189 of 206:
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Feb 28 15:39 UTC 1995 |
Indeed, do we have figures on how many new users we are currently
getting?
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popcorn
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response 190 of 206:
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Feb 28 15:52 UTC 1995 |
This response has been erased.
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carson
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response 191 of 206:
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Feb 28 18:16 UTC 1995 |
what about an ad in, say, the Ann Arbor News on their "Technology
Thursdays"? Maybe fliers at the local computer stores?
(note: I'm not discounting popcorn's point, but rather adding ideas.)
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sidhe
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response 192 of 206:
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Mar 1 16:14 UTC 1995 |
Well, I'm discounting it. MCU is just not a good mag to go with.
Many of the points have been stated and restated in the past 191 responses,
so i really shan't go through them again. Carson's suggestions, on the
other hand, are very valid and usable, for the goal of attracting A2 people.
Question, though: How many computer-using people are there to attract in
such a limited area? You may very well be getting as much a response as your
area allows, already.
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ajax
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response 193 of 206:
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Mar 1 17:06 UTC 1995 |
The suggestions Carson (and others) of multiple approaches are good
ideas. To recap my opin on that, MCU reaches more local computer users,
with less cost and effort...AANews is costlier and not as well targeted,
fliers have been done before and take volunteer time. (Still cool if
someone wants to do the work though).
As a hunch, I'd guess word of Grex hasn't reached a majority of local
computer users. The population of Washtenaw county is close to 300,000
people. Also, advertising generally works best after repeated exposures.
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scg
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response 194 of 206:
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Mar 1 20:31 UTC 1995 |
We could always advertize in the Observer. ;)
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ajax
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response 195 of 206:
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Mar 2 06:01 UTC 1995 |
That would be way cool, but as I pointed out in #115, a 1/16-page ad in the
observer is $1800/yr. I think for the AA/Ypsi News, a classified under
"computer equipment" might be an economical way to go.
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nephi
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response 196 of 206:
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Mar 2 06:45 UTC 1995 |
(Maybe you could even get them to create a new section in the classifieds
for us. Something like Computer Conferencing Systems? I'm sure this
would attract many more second glances.)
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lilmo
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response 197 of 206:
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Mar 3 02:11 UTC 1995 |
If you can make that work, you will have my hearty congratulations !!!
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tsty
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response 198 of 206:
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Mar 3 08:33 UTC 1995 |
and mine ...
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steve
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response 199 of 206:
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Mar 4 07:04 UTC 1995 |
It varies, but there are between 40 and 80 newusers each day. Usage
on Grex dips during the weekends by about 20%, but newuser activity is
up then.
What we need is *local* advertising. I got written by a new user
from Norway--in the process of talking to him, I asked how he'd heard
of us. He responded that Grex was listed in a government publication
of places to go to! I just about fell off my chair when I heard that.
...I think its safe to say that we're doing awfully well in terms
of advertising that 94% of us have never been to. But the place that
Grex was born could stand a good deal more advertising.
I'm thinking that we haven't really begun to advertise to the
real Ann Arbor area audience yet, because we're doing it in the
wrong places. I'd like to see, eventually:
- ads in program books in plays
- something at the Art Fair
- perhaps something in the student orientation guide for UM/WCC/EMU
students
- Public libraries "information" sections
- Flyers with tear-off phone numbers at area resturaunts
- various Grexers speaking at local groups meetings, explaining
what we are, what email is
- Flyers in Krogers/Meijer/Buch's/PFC/? food stores
- Public kiosk's, computer stores, book stores, coffee shops
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