OK, you have never seen me get upset about anything but I am now. This subject has come up several times lately so I thought I'd explain my position on it to all of you. Mainly, to be blunt, the newsgroup sponsor can establish just about any guidlines for their list. Since I sponsor this list, here is my guiedline on this subject. I have never encountered anyone on this list that has ever refused to provide another LITTLETON researcher with whatever help they can provide. I am very proud of all of you for your professional, courtious behavior. But a situation developed about a month ago that resulted in my being REMOVED from another surname newsgroup for disagreeing with the phylosophy of that lists sponsor about divulging information on living people. I am writing this, because I just found an important link to a LITTLETON line and wrote the person that provided the info asking for more than the persons name and was refused the info because the person was still living. This person was NOT a subscriber to this list. A LITTLETON married into their family line. Now this is MY opinion, and therefor that of this list. I feel the world is entirely too paranoid. Granted, there is the remote possibility that an enraged, ex-spouse or a stalker MIGHT use a genealogy list to locate a person, but I feel that possibility is remote. The people I have disagreed with feel they do not want to be held responsible for giving someone like this information that could lead to problems. I feel this possibility is extremely remote and does a great disservice to all genealogists that are looking for ancestors. How many of you have I, or others on this list, put you in touch with other living cousins that have provided a wealth of info on your family? Quite a few. What if I had refused to tell you, "OH YEAH, I know where you fathers missing brother lives but I won't tell you?" Wouldn't you feel very frustrated? I got into an argument with the sponsor of the Lower DL, MD, VA newsgroup about this subject and she subsequently removed me from the list. Several other people unsubscribed in my behalf which I greatly appreciated, but I felt it was totally against the research ideals of all genealogists. After all, we look to the ends of the earth for information, then are deprived of vital contacts just because a person we find and want to contact is living? In actuality, with this attitude, none of us should be talking to each other since we are all living. OK, now you know how I feel. I want you to know that if will not tolerate anyone withholding information from another researcher. BUT I will NOT remove someone for doing that, as everyone has a right to this list unless they become a trouble maker by flaming, etc. But if this happens to you, please contact me and if I have the info, you will gladly receive it. Thanks for letting me vent and explain my stand on this issue. I understand it has been tossed around quite a bit in the Genealogy community and opinions vary. Seems like opinions are strongly one way or the other. If anyone has any comments, feel free to make them, but PLEASE, don't let this deteriorate into an argument. ALSO, would someone PLEASE come to SW Florida and take this darn 40 degree weather away? It's not good for my bananas and papayas. HA HA Hope everyone has a great Holiday Season Terry Littleton - listdad