Thanks so much for your sweet words, Julie!  All a person can do is to
try, right?
 
The mob behavior happening has happened before on the list; and
certainly others can attest to that.  I do want to say that it is just
an aberration, though it repeats and often involves the same people.
Most people here are not in the knock 'em down and then kick them a lot
behavior type of crowd, and most people here seem to hate witnessing that
sort of behavior, which says a lot of good about them.  In fact, I even
have gotten some very kind apologies from some people who happened to
word things badly during the conversation.  Heck, anyone can do that.  I
do it myself at time, the same as anybody else, so it would be wrong to
not forgive it in that situation.  Any of us can be in a bad mood, or get
confused, or whatever.  Still, there are a few who repeatedly seem to
like to knock people down and then stomp all over them and get others to
do so, but you know, we all come to know who they are over time, just as
anyone in a town this size knows, so all that any of us can do is to
behave like this is living in a small town, but with it being more
peripheral to our lives than the town would be.
 
Still, I think a break from the personal assaults is perhaps due...
They are a rather annoying waste of time, space, and emotion.  Besides,
I don't think there is anyone here who would want to see what I am like
when I finally (and it takes quite a huge bit in recent decades) lose my
temper (and that doesn't get a wink or a joking face).  I do have to
admit that luckily I am not anywhere near ready to truly lose my temper,
yet.  When I do lose my temper I do so cooly and in a collected and
focused but legal way, so it is best avoided, and even I know that very
well.  No, I have not lost my temper with a ferret person in quite some
time; I'd say the last time I truly did was in 1998.  Between 1998 and
now I almost lost my temper with someone who was harassing a friend (even
beginning research into the person's life and past looking for the pulse
points but going no further), and I have had some smaller spates, or
annoyances but those are just pains in the butt and nothing more.  Still,
I guess my last true temper loss with a ferret person would have to have
been 8 years ago.  I basically (but certainly not literally) get
carnivorous when I get truly angry.  Thank goodness it is an exceedingly
rare occurrence.
 
***** Bill, time to stop their personal attacks? *****
 
Hey, Alicia, thanks for posting all of those NH animal legislation links!
I don't live there, and wasn't the one of request it, but such links
teach a lot and can provide foundations for efforts in other areas.
Thank you!  That was a fine kindness on your part!
 
-- Sukie (not a vet)
Ferret Health List co-moderator
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
FHL Archives fan
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
replacing
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org
International Ferret Congress advisor
http://www.ferretcongress.org
[Posted in FML issue 5165]