My two cents:
 
At some point, we've got to agree to disagree about subjects that people
obviously come at from very different perspectives and educational
training modalities.  Please let's not drive Bob C. off the list with
insults and negativity, as was done some years ago.  He has much too much
to offer to those of us who are here solely to learn more about caring
for our ferrets.  He doesn't expect everyone who reads his posts to
change their ways immediately, drop kibble completely, and start feeding
mice and cooking Duck Soup and Chicken Gravy.  He just wants to share
what's he's learned in many, many hours of research into his favorite
subject, and he saves us a whole lot of time by summarizing the knowledge
he's acquired.  Take what you want and leave the rest.  Right, Bob?
 
ALL the info was interesting, both the scientific, research-oriented info
from Bob and the knowledgeable herb info from Mary, etc.  Bob clearly
loves a good debate, as do I, but unfortunately some people see this as
argumentative.  Debates are an integral part of the academic campus life
that Bob has spent so much time enjoying.  To participants, I suggest, if
the tone of the debate irritates you, just stay out of the fray; your
blood pressure will be lower.  The point of debate is to clarify
information and bring out further info which might not have been included
in the initial presentation of information.  Except in a debating
competitioin, debates do not have a "winner." The winner, if there is
one, is the person who learns the most from the whole process.
 
I always read Bob's informational posts that are identified as such in
the heading, and often have multiple parts.  After a certain point, once
the debate goes on past my level of interest, I just start cruising past
them in the FML digest.  That's probably the best thing I can suggest for
those of you who don't want to read these things: don't.  To the
debaters, I say, there comes a time when it's time to take it off-list.
When your posts do not add any new info to what you've already said, then
it's time to take it private if you're not done with each other.
 
Enough said, now let's get back to those happy, gleeful creatures, the
love of which brought us all together on this list!
 
Cindy and the fudge ferts: Cocoa, Butter, and Sugar
[Posted in FML issue 3950]