I'll warn you now - perhaps I'm a bit cranky because I just got off the
road from an eagerly anticipated vacation trip (thanks, Floyd !) , to N.C.
Long time on the road, missed the ferrets enormously , but we're home now,
and everyone is well and happy.
 
I checked my mailbox and read the digests I had missed.  I'm starting to
feel as if this list is being used more to air personal grudges than to
exchange information.  Personally, I don't give a non-musteliad posterior
as to the politics of the ferret circuit.  I may go to ferret shows and
enter my animals, but it's simply for joy.  A ribbon would be fun , but
hell, it's just a show.
 
I value highly the people and wealth of information I've been exposed to
via this list.  I may not agree with every viewpoint , but I'm very
appreciative of the forum.  I love to learn, and this list has helped
answer questions and has often been a huge help in finding references,
resources, etc...
 
Simply and perhaps bluntly put, this is (I believe) designed to be an
informational forum , not a debate club.  It seems as if many postings are
endlessly dissected and discussed ad naeuseum.  Do we need or want this ?
 
This is not a visual medium .  We do not necessarily know one another's
personalities .  We have no visual or social cues on which to follow.  I do
not respond to you on the list as I would my friends in a face-to-face
conversation - not at all the same experience, so the same situational
graces don't apply.
 
In summation, let's start using this list as the incredibly handy tool that
it is.  Should you absolutely hate this idea, my opinions, or me, please
feel free to contact me.  I maintain an email address for this reason.  I
would much rather see more questions about ferret behavior than human
behavior here.
 
I'm off my soapbox, wishing no disrespect to any.
 
Kym
[Posted in FML issue 2817]