Date: Fri, 23 May 2003 12:29:36 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Steve Huy Subject: Re: Open season on Horseshoe Crabbers & Birders? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit While birding or out on one of the research projects I get involved in I sometimes meet people similar to what is being discussed in this thread. I suppose I have been fortunate to have not met anyone so angry or violent that I didn't get a chance to speak with them. My tactic has been to listen to their side of the story. Ask questions. Try to understand. Keep educated on the issues and ask how any alternatives may, or may not, be good for them. Don't argue, just talk. I rarely walk away from such encounters without both parties having learned something. And you may make friends in the process. I'm sure there must be some DNR people on this list that could provide advice on handling these situations. I've found you can't go anywhere with a DNR person or in a DNR uniform without facing someone that is angry or unhappy about something. A simple thing like walking into a small store can turn into hearing out someone's complaints on a DNR policy. Just listening can really make a difference and allow the person to calm down and feel satisfied. Steve ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================