I feel obliged to comment on the restrictive use some listers feel
equally compelled to enforce.
I have enjoyed this list ever since I discovered it some time ago. I
have gotten more good advice, information and tech tips than I would
have by hanging around an MG garage. I have made quite a few good
friends, some I have never had the honor of shaking hands with, but
thoroughly enjoy having had the pleasure of their company and respect
their views on many subjects, not just automobiles.
There are also some on the list that I do not care for, not them
personally, but their curt and sometimes rude remarks. To tell
someone to not bring up a subject, any subject is akin to telling a
person in a verbal conversation to "shut up" or "that is a really
stupid thing to say". This is rude and inconsiderate. I doubt many
of us would do that if we did not have the veil and distance that the
computer provides.
I have always felt like this list was a close-knit group, drawn
together by a common interest in MG cars. As at a car show or any
place people gather for a common cause, other topics will crop up and
sometimes a lively discussion will ensue. This place could be church,
a ball game, bar or party at someone's home. At occasions such as
these if someone brought up a topic not related to the game or the
sermon that day, no polite person would pop up and say "shut up we
should only talk about church" or even better at a birthday party,
would we be allowed to only talk about the person's birthday that we
came to celebrate? This is the logic being applied on the net.
We do have the luxury of ignoring comments on the list that we don't
care to respond. Simply hit the delete key and move on to a topic
that interest you. I will be chastised for wasting bandwidth. To be
quite honest, I really don't what bandwidth is. I have a very limited
computer and have never run out of "bandwidth". With the use of the
delete key and created folders, I can clear 100s of emails in a matter
of minutes.
I equate turning on the computer to coming home and finding a house
full of guest, who are brimming with ideas and conversation. I do not
feel the need to apologize for the length of my missive or it's
content. Those of you who do not care to read it may delete it. I
will not be offended, hurt or even aware of the fact that you did.
For those of you who took the time to read this, thank you.
Mike R
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