On being an ex-student
As far as I am concerned, being an ex-student member is a tradeoff between
using the resources of the society and trying to put something back in.
Most of the ex-students seem to agree with me, at least as judged by their
actions. Their presence suggests that they are getting something out, and
most of them seem to put something back: games; videos; events; help with
the magazine; help with the library; help with organising events, posters,
whatever; even friendly advice and constructive criticism on how to run a
society and deal with an obstructive, sports-orientated union.
From what I have gathered in talking to the chairmen (and please speak up
for yourselves, chairmen) these things are welcome - even the last, if the
operative words "friendly", "constructive" and "advice" are remembered. By
and large I try to remember them: check the archives and judge for yourself.
You will see that the odd little snipe has slipped out. Some of them were
deliberate. But I hope it doesn't come out as a whole screed of "you're all
sad, your committee's crap, you don't deserve to live because you're not
cool".
If you are a regularly contributing ex-student, would you care to consider
these points. If you have regularly contributed, it might be worth looking
back through the archive on http://www.noseynick.org/IFIS/archive.html,
to discover how much of your posting has been "friendly constructive
advice", and how much has been scornful of the Committees or the membership.
There are occasions when these things get unfriendly - these sorts of
discussions are best taken off-list. (Nick, do you agree?) It might make
you feel better to publically exchange insults with someone, because they
have insulted your favourite Spice Girl or whatever, but if it becomes
personal, in the end egos get tied in, it gets acrimonious and the
bystanders get fed up and leave. Sometimes a little sarcasm is funny - but
there is a difference between insulting a Spice Girl - who is not onlist, I
hope - and aiming insults at people onlist. In the end, flamewars are soooo
boring.
You will notice that this does not name anyone in particular. That is
deliberate. I will not discuss this personally here on list. Take it to
E-mail if you want to use names.
At this time in the term many students are seeing their first glimpses of
how these societies work. I would like them to know that most of us
ex-students would like to help, so you can enjoy your membership of these
societies. We want to have fun too. The people who want to be sarcastic
and negative about everything, and moan about every idea being impossible
for such a sad bunch as these societies are desperately in a minority, and
best ignored. In my oh-so-humble opinion you have joined one (or both) of
the best societies the college has for people who have a brain.
Simon
---
"This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind" -Ecclesiastes 4:16
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