<HTML><BODY STYLE="font:10pt verdana; border:none;"><DIV> <DIV>Greeting=
s, </DIV> <DIV>I use to subscribe to the list and participated occasional=
ly. I had enjoyed the discussions but un-subscribed for two reasons. I do=
n't spend a lot of time on the internet so whenever I logged-on my "in bo=
x" would take too much time to sort out the junk, personal and Tech-list.=
The other reason is that following the message thread can sometimes be a=
nnoying. Whenever personality clashes or religious discussions have heate=
d up the forum, the folks who enjoy discussing piano related topics usual=
ly stop posting for a while until the dust settles and the demeanor =
of the group changes. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Now, I go straight to=
the Archive and select the month's discussions by selecting the "subject=
". I can see what topics are being bantered and how heated the discussion=
s are by the number of participants involved. I have wanted to chime in o=
ccasionally but I feel that because I am not a subscribed member my comme=
nts shouldn't rate merit on the playing field. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <=
DIV>For my infrequent visit's to the list I enjoy most of the material an=
d everyone involved in it. I keep it that way by avoiding discussions tha=
t are off topic, opinionated and loathe. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Da=
vid Chadwick RPT</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>><I>Tr=
ent Lesher wrote:<BR></I>><I><BR></I>><I>...not that I am an establ=
ished, credentialed member of this list nor have <BR></I>><I>I necessa=
rily felt welcomed into the fold ...<BR></I><BR>I don't mean to put Trent=
on the spot or single him out, but I thought I <BR>would use this post a=
s a jumping off point. Since there has been discussion<BR>of late o=
n appropriate posts to pianotech, an alternative forum, etc., I thought<B=
R>it might be a good time to get some feedback (especially from those who=
rarely<BR>or never post) about what makes people feel welcome on the lis=
t or feel that they<BR>are 'qualified' to make a post. There are se=
veral hundred people subscribed to this<BR>list, but only a small percent=
age of them post. I've seen a few posts lately from<BR>people who d=
on't often post, about not feeling credentialed, not knowing the secret<B=
R>handshake, etc. What would make those of you who don't feel crede=
ntialed, and<BR>who perhaps know as much or more than those who frequentl=
y post, feel credentialed?<BR>Any lurkers out there care to comment?<BR><=
BR>Phil Ford<BR><BR></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>