Bill, Thank you very much for expressing how I'm sure many of us feel. Well said. Sharyl Mattheis, William G wrote: > To All: > > As a preface to this topic, I want to say that I try to be more of a > listener that a "talker", or to at least make my comments as short as > possible. Now, I'm not as good of a manager of the subject line as I should > be, and I probably don't manage other aspects of the use of this "list" as > well as I should - - in response to the comments today, I promise to be less > lazy and manager better. > > However, I, for one, find the "banter" to be (1) charming, (2) an > illuminating insight into folks that I feel (or in fact enjoy) a kinship > with, and (3) Educational. I, personally, have learned/gleaned many > precious facts and insight into my genealogy from the info posted to this > site for all to read. At the same time I understand that many folks are > "space limited", and find the things I enjoy to be a liability. Perhaps the > correct solution is a chat room. I don't know, because I have never chatted > on line, and know little about doing so. I am willing to learn, however, > and to find ways to address the needs of all. > > I, for one, however, do not respond well to being "chastised." One of the > most enjoyable aspects of this list for me is the mutual respect and > admiration that the vast majority of list users demonstrate to each other, > and their obvious joy at the interaction and learning afforded to all of us. > The least enjoyable thing I encounter, is the "whining" of those customers > who are "disatisfied.", especially when that whining is critical of others. > This is a voluntary event as far as I can tell. Frankly, if I didn't like > the way the list was run, or the actions of the folks who use it, I's start > my own list, run it my own way, and have discourse limited to just those who > think, act and fell just like me. But, of course, that would take > initiative, work and a level of risk that most "complainers" aren't ever > willing to take on - - now that is something I just can't respect. > > Well, having vented here, I sit, paused over the send key. Should I, or > shouldn't I send. Hmmm! Having spent the energy to write this, should I > send it and take the risk of offending others, or, even worse, opening > myself up to criticism. Will my intended audience even HEAR me. Based on > my experience in dealing with children (both young and adult children), I > suppose they wont Should I send? Oh, heck yes. Let's all be adults, work > together, and I'm sure that we can have what we want and/or need without any > further character assassination. > > My sermon for the week. I will send. > > Bill > >