I have noticed some members expressing dissatisfaction with the conduct of new members, in posts that I think should have taken the form of private messages to the new member. And a consensus about the propriety of a new member's posts ought be reached via private posts between objecting old timers.And the consensus should be conveyed to the newcomer privately. This would be kinder to the newcomer, and serve the board's purposes just as well. And, indeed, it is so easy to just ignore inappropriate posts that this seems the best way to handle them.Let us not have any kangaroo courts.

Bill, there are certain things that are quite difficult to discuss, either privately or publicly. You cannot know how hard it was for me to write that note last night. I did not want to be misinterpreted, to sound bigoted or biased.

People stuck in a war are often blind to the suffering of the 'other side' because, lets face it, there is so much suffering on their own side. In war, people only see the forest, not the trees. I was afraid that sending a personal note would have made me seem like I was discounting her feelings or telling her she is wrong to feel that way. That is not my place; that is between her and her God.

What I was trying to do was to let her know that the Board is not the place to broadcast those feelings without attacking her belief that she is right to feel that way. The Board is not the place for those discussions.

We are all here because of our basic love of Words. It is a place for friends to meet, to discuss and to generally have a lot of fun. I do not want to lose any members. I enjoy everybody who joins. I love hearing new voices. It makes this place wonderful.

When I read wwh's posts I remember the words of poet Ezra Pound :
"They will come no more
the old men with beautiful manners."
wow

Let us not have any kangaroo courts.

No worries, Bill - we would never agree on a verdict!

But I know just what BelM meant. Having rejoined after a week away and trawled thru' about a thousand posts, some made me want to reply in a similar imtemperate manner. That is the slippery slope of bigotry. There do have to be gentle ways in which we agree our communal code, I think - not just little furtive messages behind the scenes. Bless Shanks for the extraordinary sensitivity of one of his replies, BTW.

"They will come no more
the old men with beautiful manners."
wow

If you'll forgive me the presumption, Cara Deus... my Odyssean friend... i'm sure the name Scribbler came immediately to mind as a notable exception to this adage for more readers than just me.

Oh dear me ...please ...
My quote was specific to dear wwh.
I fear that too much would be dumped on my poor old grey head were we to start pointing out each others' flaws.
One of the things I most enjoy about this Board is the unflagging kindness and forgiveness for inapt, inept posts ... many mine own.
Or have I completely misread your comment?
O misery me.
wow

*my* comment, wow? oh dear, indeed... i fear this board is getting entirely too defensive; i was merely using the opportunity to express my enjoyment of the recent effusively (oh, wait... does effusive carry strictly negative connotations? i mean this only in a positive way...) polite exchanges between Scribbler and others on this board. Something about them absolutely mesmerizes me; i certainly didn't mean to suggest that any of the other gentlemen (or ladies) on this board were less than couth, nor was i suggesting that *you* had suggested so....

oh... i do believe this thread is becoming indistinguishable with the "How Can I Dig a Big Hole" thread

entirely too defensive

See what I mean, Bill? We can't even get through the courthouse door without two of us going "no, no - after you, Claude" - "No, after you, Cyril"!

edit in: [just-in-case-anyone-starts-throwing-things-e!!]

>"no, no - after you, Claude" - "No, after you, Cyril"!

not to pick nits... well, ok... exactly to pick nits... isn't that an Alphonse-and-Gaston routine?

i do believe this thread is becoming indistinguishable with the "How Can I Dig a Big Hole" thread

Nah, blame it on the Poms - they're infecting us with Foot-in-Mouth!

Tonge in cheek is something I often confuse with foot in mouth. Sincere apologies to anyone and all I offended.
{Digging deep hole, jumping in, pulling dirt atop self }
wow

I have a permanent case of foot-in-mouth disease. So bad, in fact, that I only open my mouth to change feet.

Me? Sensitive?

Shoe me where and I'll go correct it.

the sunshine (the blunderbuss is the finest tool I use) warrior

"They will come no more
the old men with beautiful manners."

Oh dear...

Does this mean that in a few years, when I am old and grey and tired and sitting by the fire full of sleep, I shall have to be bad-mannered if I want to get any nookie?

cheer

the sunshine (take me to the gutter...) warrior

I am often seen with a foot in my mouth.

-Scott

I am often seen with a foot in my mouth.
------------------------------------------------
Now, there's one for The Department of Silly Walks !!
wow