Norm - Just back from a few days on the west coast and now am going through my messages. Rained all the time so I didn't get any birding in but did see some YB magpies. Regarding the subject thread - - I think the tone and tenor of the postings is good; informative, casual, and friendly. Browsing, sorting, and deleting is simple and quick. Let's not change it. Tom Loomis ---------- > From: Norm Saunders <osprey@ARI.Net> > To: mdosprey@ARI.Net > Subject: Appropriate Posts > Date: Tuesday, February 03, 1998 6:49 PM > > Many of you never logged onto The Osprey's Nest during it's 10-year > tenure here in Colesville so you may not understand my philosophy > regarding messages, chit-chat, friendly exchanges, etc., etc. > > Perhaps some messages posted here are more of a personal nature than > many of us wish to read, granted. Better that than a list where > people are afraid to post anything but dry, stilted bird reports. > Yes, the birds are important, but, from my perspective anyway, the > birders are equally as important. > > One person writes: "there seems to be MANY messages posted on > mdosprey that are really personal messages to one or two people..." > > Another writes: "Way too many posts are ones of a totally personal > nature and have nothing whatsoever to do with benefit to the group > as a whole..." > > My initial reaction to these posts was anger, but it's counter- > productive to react that way. Rather, I just hope to convince all of > you that maybe a less formal, more personable, earthy approach can > work out just fine. I want NO SENSE WHATSOEVER here that this list > is constrained or edited or censored or in any other way controlled. > I don't want a single user to be afraid, ever, to post to the list, > afraid of ridicule, harassment, whatever. > > If that means that too many e-mails are generated for your taste, > then I'll understand your decision to sign off the list. I hope, > quite honestly, that we don't lose any subscribers over this > silliness. If you do decide to leave the list, I ask that you do it > gently...flame wars are no good to anyone. > > Good birding, all! > > Norm > > =============== > Norm Saunders > Colesville, MD > osprey@ari.net