To all listowners to which this is being mailed to: I think I've talked to you all at some stage or other. The following is off topic re genealogy but I think is also very on topic. I've been on a number of groups which had wonderful contributors. I can see that some of the groups to which this is going have begun to take off recently as regards people contributing information.... This post began as a reply to someone who had mailed me personally re something I had posted to one list only.....it was when I finished it that I decided I would send it also to those lists I am still subscribed to To everybody: The mail is more directed at those people who would be negative about receiving too much mail from any newsgroup. Who would complain to listowners or rootsweb about contributions to any newsgroup...other than those of a political nature or which become newsgroups where everyone is sending in jokes and other topics absolutely unrelated to genealogy. In every aspect of life there has to be some give and take. in order to get information - then if you give a little leeway to those who I describe here as becoming regular contributors you will get in return. Maybe not today or tomorrow....but next week or next year. I ask people to really consider what they are doing, and think about what any person they would complain about on any newsgroup contributes - before heading off to make that complaint. I've been on newsgroups for almost three years now and I've found that for each one people gradually get to know one another, or one anothers posts would be a more true thing to say. They become comfortable with a list, with those they know on it, while forgetting that they've really only met a very very small percentage of those subscribed. Gradually these who become comfortable seem to introduce something more than just posting of information, sometimes they send a mail intended for one or two people privately to the list and then end up apologising to the list, and at the same time - they meet loads more people who tell them that they didn't mind the mistake, who while they lurk and don't post themselves appreciate the posting of the individual who made the mistake. Long sentence that.....hope it comes across ok. Also, those who contribute regularly and who have become familiar with the list - they may send in a joke or two.....something that it not absolutely genealogically related, a bit of history - something 'off-topic' but not too much so. Then, someone who lurks begins to lodge complaints - either with the listowner or rootsweb. Others who have lurked will also begin to complain....and because for any good list there are always many more subscribers than contributors and so those who complain can count more. It's the same old story - happens all the time, has done with so many lists I've been on. What happens in the end depends on the character of the listowner - and on the number of people who make complaints - and mainly I imagine on the power of money....those who complain may be rootsweb contributors....and between them, they donate a lot of money - it amounts to more than that contributed even by those who contribute information and get enjoyment from the dissemination of this information. It is really so sad. There are petty people out there, who do nothing for themselves, or for others. Who would complain about anything and everything. I doubt that these are happy people. They take the pleasure of others and stamp on it. They take the pleasure of those who share, they take the pleasure of those who appreciate this sharing. Lord, I have learned so much from genealogy that it is absolutely incredible and I am not talking about all that I have learned on how to research in this country of mine or names or anything like that. I've learned more about people over the last three years than I ever did in my lifetime before. I did not mean this to turn out to be so long - my apologies...and I think I will forward this to all those groups I still remain on. Without your name or post to me. Jane