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I don't know if you were a subscriber then, but a few months ago,
there were many messages about how this list tended to be less
tolerant, and more prone to barbequing posters, than most other
listservs. I actually didn't think it was all that bad until I
started reading those posts.
That's a topic (techwr-l flames too much) that comes up periodically, and
though you're welcome to your opinion on it, I think it's bunk.
In fact, the last time this topic came up I volunteered to be a flame
counting house. I suggested that for the following month anyone who saw
what they considered to be a flame should send me an email with the
complete circumstances and I'd total them up and report the results.
I don't know if I reported the results, but if I didn't it's because, while
I received several messages pointing out a flame, most of them pointed out
the same flame. In fact, for the entire month-long period there were only
two messages that were reported as flames. For a list that probably held
3000+ messages that month, that's a pretty low total.
Personally, I think that we, as a collective, are prone to complaining in
general (I submit the agency mark-up thread as evidence) and will invent
things to complain about if necessary. (Note the inclusive pronoun.) Anyone
out there want to prove me wrong? Go collect some facts and we'll talk
about it. I did my survey; those are my results and the conclusion I draw
from them. I'll be happy to look at any conflicting data.
Have fun,
Arlen
Chief Managing Director In Charge, Department of Redundancy Department
DNRC 224
Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- Com
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In God we trust; all others must provide data.
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Opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.
If JCI had an opinion on this, they'd hire someone else to deliver it.
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