Forwarded Message: Subj: my response to Ms. Patricia in N.C. Date: 6/13/2005 6:02:42 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time From: [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) To: [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) CC: [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) , [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) , [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) , [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) , [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) , [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) , [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) Sent from the Internet _(Details)_ (aolmsg://08689898/inethdr/2) Patricia Honey, I find it interesting that you wait until after I am gone to criticize me, and pose suggestions that I cannot see. The reason I posted in the first place was to get help, and bring attention to the cause. I'm absolutely floored that so much irritation was caused by a few posts. I'm used to Rootsweb Lists with dozens of posts a day, sharing information and opinions. How do you think we learn anything, other than by sharing with one another? I have no control over the "avalanche" of subsequent posts created by the LA blocking me, and then AndyPandy unsubscribing me from all lists, but shouldn't that in itself tell you that something is amiss with the system, since the bulk of the posts were in my behalf? Obviously, you aren't on very many Lists if you think these postings were an "avalanche." Why in the world would I return to a sleepy little list like this with an "organized summary" for goodness sake. Did it occur to you that this is a living, breathing, ongoing battle, and I was sharing it as it happened, getting help with each blow? This is a totally new experience for me, and I needed help, and thankfully have gotten it from Listers who cared. Do you actually think I would return if the phantom List Administrator let me? Honey, what happened to the Texan in you? Do you actually think I would give you a nice tidy report, after my head has been bloodied (but unbowed) by the Masons and all of the small minded people such as yourself? No, I will give you exactly what I gave AndyPandy: Dear Bexar County Listers, I have been on this list for awhile and always hope to find something of interest since much of my family was originally from that area and I was born in San Antonio. I currently live in another state and work as the Collections (Artifacts) Manager at a historical institution, so the furor surrounding the Alamo Masonic Cemetery has been nothing if not compelling. Also, my great grandfather was a Mason. I have been following the story via the e-mail traffic since it began so have been able to sit back from afar and hopefully develop a fairly objective opinion on this issue. I think the consensus among most amateur genealogists would be that Ms. Reveley's efforts to restore the cemetery to its proper place in the city's history by cleaning it, maintaining it and recognizing it for its historical significance are certainly worthy of our admiration and support. I think the problems began when the e-mails became a dialogue (usually one-line messages) between individuals concernin! g the details of organizing the clean up and then, the trading of heated comments about the list, its purpose, Ms. Reveley, attitudes about cemeteries, etc. Whatever we think about the cemetery issue we need to remember some things, i.e. we are members of the Bexar County list that belongs to RootsWeb--they can administer it any way they see fit, even if we don't like it. Secondly, I believe that some people were frustrated because of the avalanche of e-mail (again, much of it unnecessary details); although some people may have unlimited e-mail capacity in their inboxes, that is not the case for everyone and the extreme number may have overextended some people's accounts. When I got to work this morning I had sixty unopened e-mails--fifty-eight of them from this list alone! I don't have an issue with capacity but I know some do and it would be a courtesy to cut down on the "one-liners" (and venting of anger via petty insults). Thirdly, the main purpose of the list is to exc! hange genealogical facts; we need to try and adhere to that when possi ble (I know I'm breaking that rule right now but this is the first time I've ever sent anything other than a fact query or response to a list). :) My suggestion would be that if the Administrator allows Ms. Reveley back on the list perhaps she could just send a daily or weekly (whatever works best) update on the progress of the Alamo Masonic Cemetery project. As a historian, I would love to know how it turns out and I think an organized summary of findings, actions taken, etc. would be far more effective than the bits and pieces we have been receiving. Good luck to everyone in their genealogical quests! Sincerely, Patricia in NC