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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From time to time we see people =
criticize
participants in this chat for their quips, quotes, howdies, and
jokes.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My two cents:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This being a democracy, the chat will =
be what the
majority of participants mold it to be, over time.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There are some who wish it all to be =
serious and
technical. That's okay. That's fair.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Others enjoy the banter and the =
camaraderie of
comrades in arms (arms and hammers, actually). That's okay, too. (Yes it =
is! Now
don't argue. Read on ...)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I am, unashamedly, of the latter =
disposition. I
really enjoy the contact with people who fight the same battles I fight. =
Sometimes, ours is a pretty lonely trade.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Others are more serious-minded and/or =
introverted.
At PTG meetings, a common topic is "How do I get the customer to stop =
talking to
me and, in fact, leave the room." To this, I say: "Why would you want =
to?"
People have temperaments, too.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I think neither side is "wrong" unless =
felt and
expressed in a judgmental way; which is sometimes the tone of said =
critical
posts.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If the current flavor of the chat--it =
will change
over time--is not to the liking of any participant, he or she may =
reasonably
choose to leave. They can still benefit from the helpful =
information and
advice of the chat by searching the archives.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>But please don't threaten to leave, as =
if you were
scolding children. Just bow out quietly.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Better still (we WOULD miss you), =
participate in
the serious stuff. Ask and answer good questions. In time, the character =
of the
crowd may sway more to your liking. This thought occurs because I have =
noticed
that people with such "complaints" are usually not the ones who are =
actively
chatting--even about technical or business issues.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So, for now, I plan to stick around and =
I refuse to
feel any guilt or shame for my big electronic mouth. I yam what I yam. =
The only
thing that bugs me about the site are the occasional whiffs of =
hatefulness and
intolerance of alternate viewpoints. But that's part of life, =
too.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Since I am one heaping coals on =
foreheads of the
serious-minded and, since I have always had an overactive guilty =
conscience, I
felt a twinge of "O, dear" when I read the most recent critical
comments.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>When I am corrected or chastened, I =
hope I have
demonstrated that humility is the way to learn. I've seen others employ =
it here,
too. Hence, my comments. I don't feel guilty of anything and I won't be
changing.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If I find the conversation gets too =
technical and
serious-minded, I will simply unsubscribe and use the archives as =
needed. Then I
will find other outlets for my need to communicate with humor, =
curiosity, and
real interest in the lives of fellow tuners.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Am I right, or am I wrong? Ah, that's =
the point.
There IS no right or wrong about this. But there is something every bit =
as
important as my obligation to not intentionally offend others: Others =
have an
obligation to take no offense when none was intended, or when sincere =
apologies
are given.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In a note of delicious irony, this post =
and all
the threaten-to-leave posts are definitely OT (that's "Off Topic" =
for you
folks in Rio Linda)</FONT> <FONT face=Arial size=2>and should =
be
banned.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Keep smiling, folks. Life is far too important to take
seriously.</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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