From: phyllis@amc-gw.amc.com (Phyllis Rostykus)
Newsgroups: alt.config
Subject: Re: Chatsubo
Date: 26 Nov 90 18:19:11 GMT

In article <2M~^YC*@rpi.edu> tale@rpi.edu (David C Lawrence) writes:

>Admittedly, "Literary virtual reality in a high-tech
>low-life hangout." (from the newgroup) is a bit short compared to the
>charters which Eliot attaches to USENET newgroups, but it is pretty
>accurate.

Absolutely... and I'd like to leave it at that, as it seems to be working
for the group.  But I understand that some people need something more,
especially when trying to decide wheither or not to take the group without
having to wade through all the words.

So I've come up with the following, I'm not sure if it's enough, and I'd
like feedback, both from the group and from alt.config as to wheither or
not it is appropriate.

--------

Chatsubo is the bar in _Neuromancer_, written by Willian Gibson.

Originally, alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo was created to get third-person traffic
off of alt.cyberpunk and to create a place for more character orientated
interaction than was thought suitable for alt.callahans.  It was created to
allow an outlet for imaginations that wished to work in the venue of
cyberpunk and/or cyberspace.

The purpose of the group is to interact, much as it is in alt.callahans; 
however, in the venue of cyberpunk.  It is for people to write stories,
to play with the venue and with the possibilities of the cyberpunk genre.
For those that want to read stuff in the cyberpunk genre, and add to it,
themselves, and to have an imaginative outlet on what they think a
cyberpunk society will feel like, be like to live in.  However, the
definition of 'cyberpunk' has broadened to include bits from the Shadowrun
games and just about any story and/or idea which basically has human kind
interacting and interfacing with machine in a dangerous social environment.

Appropriate subjects will probably include interaction discussions; lots of
storylines; information on books/games/etc as sources for the stories;
technical discussions of how something that's been created for a story
would actually work or all the reasons that it wouldn't work; examples of
what cyberspace is composed of, looks like, and feels like to work in;
martial arts in the venue of cyberpunk; and improvement in writing skills,
as that is the main avenue of communication.

There seems to be common, playground level courtesy extended to all, with
the added benefit of being able to effectively ignore bullies.  If you
want to play in someone's story, ask.  Most likely, there will be a place
for you.  If they won't let you play or there isn't room in the game, then
make your own story or game and bring people into it; or play on a plane
by yourself; or ask other people.  Just remember, if you beat up on too
many people's characters or step on too many storylines, then no one will
play with you.  Simple, and it's been shown to be effective on
alt.callahans.  It's a consensual virtual reality.

As for rules for interaction... ask the person that you want to interact
with.  Just like in Real Life.  If you want to play with them, you'll have
to follow their rules and guidelines.  I would almost rather there were no
specific rules for the group, as it seems, without them, the group is doing
what it was made for, which was exploring the powers of imagination in a
cyberpunk world.
-- 
Liralen Li           | "Looking down on empty streets, all she can see are 
aka Phyllis Rostykus |  the dreams all made solid, are the dreams made real."
phyllis@eld.amc.com  |  - "Mercy Street" by Peter Gabriel