HATCHER website: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~nhatcher/faq.htm HATCHER DNA project: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~nhatcher/hatDNA.htm HALL DNA project: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~nhatcher/hall/HDNAtest.htm "If you can't stand the skeletons, stay out of the closet" - Val D Greenwood To one and all........ Time and circumstances have prevented me from writing this until now but there are a few things that I feel must be said about the recent events on this board. First, my sincere thanks to Charlotte for her change of position regarding DNA discussions. I am aware of the occasional problems these postings can cause for some who are not interested as well as the damage they can do to some lists when they spiral out of control. I have always thought our list was quite reasonable in this respect and hope it will continue to be so without causing undue problems. There is no list where every posting will be of interest to all and we have to accept that. So! I will be cancelling my request for a new board. I can't tell you how happy I am about that! Next, I feel it is an absolute necessity that someone speak up for John Lisle after that most vicious attack on him, and I am here to do that. I knew him far earlier and far better than I know most on this board. His character, good name and integrity are known by hundreds who know him and been helped by him over the years. His experience in the geney world is 30+ years. No one's good reputation survives that long by willfully abusing others within the community. Each of us in our own personal world can find one or two people whose opinion of us is less than desirable or outright negative. None of us are immune. But those few negative opinions should be balanced against the positive when forming our opinions. I'm sure there are many on this list who already know John who are nodding in agreement. But I would like to specifically address those who are not that familiar with John and whose only lasting impression of him may be one of suspicion and distrust based on ugly and unchallenged words. There is no need to spell out details but I can say this much - should push come to shove, there is sufficient evidence to easily disprove those very reckless charges should it ever come to that. John is and always has been, in my opinion, honest, open, trustworthy and much more willing to share his experience and knowledge than most of us even have time for. He has been and still is an invaluable member of this list, a man whose character and good name should not be left to lie in the mud. That is all I have to say and now I ask just one thing. Please do NOT respond on the list to this msg. This msg was meant to nail down the last missing plank on this ship and NOT to begin a new flurry of msgs or debate on the issue. If you really feel the need to make a comment, please do so privately to me at [email protected] I do not want to see Charlotte having to put this list back on moderation :-) Thanks for hearing me out. Nel