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Is this what the list has degenerated to? PD or not, anger, frustration, whatever the excuse, "shut up" is WAY out of line. If I may say my 50 cents worth - I've been around this list since it was created and I've seen this very same argument come up at least once a year. Different people, same problem. We survived because there is a core of people who are dedicated to the survival of this list. However, we have chased away hundreds because of this problem. Did you ever wonder where all the hundreds of people are that subscribe to this list? No doubt, like me and many others, they just flat stopped writing. I receive the list in digest form, pick out what I consider important to read and skip over the rest. The reason I stopped writing is because of these arguments and because some very good friends were chased off by the core of censors on both sides. I have no desire to banter back and forth about right and wrong (except when it comes to people saying. "Shut up.") My time and my life is too valuable to sink to that level. What I hate to see is the continued loss of good people with excellent minds - Janet, Marjorie, Dr. Bob, Gail, Sandra, Don (who might be the greatest person alive), Junita, Bernie, Joan and all the others who write so well and express so richly about not only what we must all live with, but about the wonders of this life around us. I am not a Professional PWP. I have it, it bothers me, I try to learn everything I can about it, I want a cure and I want it to go away. But there is a whole lot more going on in the world that is more important to me than PD. My sense of self, my love for others, my spirituality has been deeply enriched by letters written from those on this list. I treasure those letters and those souls living in the bodies of our members. Without them, without this list, I would not have grown to what I am. We can't crawl off to Barb P. every time we get in a snit, nor should we sink to the "Shut Up" level when we disagree. Begging for a sense of maturity is useless. We can only ignore those who transgress our moral level and search and hold dear those gems of wisdom others so often share. I threatened to walk away once when some folks questioned Margaret Tuchman (who no longer gets this list) and her honesty. A long time ago I almost quit when David Boots left (because of this very same problem). I won't leave anymore because I hold many in this group in high value for their minds and because they are so willing to share. From them I learn, and I have a lot to learn about this life and those to come. Dr. Bob, switch to digest form, do a fast scan, ignore those who dwell in mindless chatter, treasure the gems, answer what you wish. This phase will pass soon, yet to arise again sometime next year. Help those who want your help, skip over those who don't want your help. But stay with us. And for those who question where I stand, I disagree with everyone (except Don, who remains my favorite guy). Jerry Finch ************************************************************************ * Tracking #: F9AF4F6A5A5F0B4ABE7714CA4B3E56AA39D4EDE8 * ************************************************************************ -- Habitat for Horses, Inc. A lifetime home for abused, endangered horses. http://www.habitatforhorses.org/