At 01:16 PM 9/7/98 -0500, Lon & T. Whisler wrote: >Very Good Point!! I often wait for an answer to something and then >never see it because of the strict rules. Usually if it is really important >to me, I will email the person with the question, begging for them to >forward me the answers they receive. But if they are as busy as I am, >sometimes I never hear from them. It would be so much easier if we >could all see the answers and then make the decision as to whether >we want to read it or not. You make a good point in the last sentence; however, it ignores the problem we are constantly faced with. If each and every reply came back to the List, rather than to an individual, this would probable cause the number of daily messages to increase 2- or 3-fold. There are several things we COULD do to make it easier and more con- venient for everyone, but let's face it, reality must overrule the ideal situation most of the time. I COULD allow off-topic threads and even "chit-chat"; lots of users would like that. I could stop insisting that users use proper subject headers. RootsWeb COULD allow users to send attachments or long messages over 15,000 bytes. You see, lots of things COULD be allowed -- but they're not, for valid reasons. Some users may not like the way things are run here on this List, but they just have to accept the fact that it's NOT going to change and get on with their research instead of constantly griping and sending these opposition views here to the List. I have said it before, and I'll say it again, "IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE RULES AND WANT TO DEBATE THEM, DO NOT DO SO ON THIS LIST." Send me your comments, arguments, etc., via PRIVATE email, not back here to the List. As to the Subject, "List is for learning, right?", the List is for establishing contacts for specific surname research. That and nothing more. Nuff said, SgtGeorge Listowner