Did too did not

["Bonni J. Graham" <bgraham -at- ELECTRICITI -dot- COM>]

Look, folks, I don't usually complain about topics on this list.  By and
large, I feel that if there's numerous posts on a topic, then that topic is
important to at least some of us, and should be allowed to continue.

That said,  ENOUGH WITH THE "DID TOO - DID NOT" POSTS!  IMO, there have
been way too many arguments over non-substantive topics lately.  I've been
on this list since last November, and have been watching the trend since
March.  It is definitely on the increase.

At the moment, the informative, substantive posts outweigh the relatively
silly posts (and by relatively silly, I don't mean stuff like the barbecue
post -- that was at least amusing).  The ratio, however, is starting to
drop.

I'm not saying don't post.  I'm not trying to scare off the newcomers.  I'm
not trying to control the subject matter to suit myself.  What I am begging
you is to think before you post -- especially before you post to the whole
list.  LOOK at the address on your header before you send.  Ask yourself if
the post adds anything to the discussion.  I'm the first to admit that I
love to hear myself talk, but knowing that, I try to restrain it in public.

I know I'm breaking my own rule here -- I know I'm continuing the kind of
discussion I would like to see fade.  But I really can't keep quiet about
this any more.  I KNOW there are erroneous posts - eoops is a very good way
to put it.  Those aren't the posts I'm talking about.  I KNOW there are
times that an error needs to be pointed out.  Those aren't the posts I'm
talking about either.  I'm talking about the posts that come off sounding
mean-spirited, even if they're meant to be funny.  I'm talking about the
posts that criticize net behavior without considering that maybe something
was an error (and I'm guilty of that myself -- sorry, maryd -at- aol -dot- com).  I'm
talking about the teeming  hordes of unneccesary flames we've all been
complaining about.

It's not a matter of thick vs thin skins -- it's a matter of simple
courtesy and thoughtfulness.

OK, I'm done now, I'll go back under my rock.

B.
Bonni Graham
Manual Labour
Director, Region 8 Conference
bgraham -at- electriciti -dot- com