Here we go again guys.....it takes one person to start these petty wars, and all of US to try and stop them. Goodness people - If we could all just "stop responding" to the "not so nicely worded" posts, then perhaps, then the people who seem to think that they are the "ferret care experts" would use a bit more care when choosing their wording of posts. I know that I am guilty as sin of this little crime myself, but for heaven's sake people - Mr. Owens has a right to own pets, just like you do. This rather reminds me of two people arguing the same point - just because your ideas are different, that doesn't necessarily make you "right" and the other person "wrong". It is a choice of wo rds that has caused this ridiculous back/forth stuff again, and it could have been avoided if people were just a little bit more empathetic towards other peoples predicaments. Please - let's all try and slow down - read what we have written to make sure that if we aren't trying to "flame" someone, that our posts don't reflect that we are! Karen, regarding your comment to Mr. Owens: Please try to remember that Mr. Owens probably already feels bad about his ferrets being lost/hurt/killed - and that if you really wanted to help him, then emailing him privately - probably would have been the best way to "offer advice" - especially when it was worded the way it was. You say on one hand: ""This post was and still is in no way intended to be a flame or a critisim. It is intended to suggest that further ferret proofing needs to be done. Please, please take it in that spirit."" THEN you come out with: The continual losses and accidents is NOT NORMAL."" - How on earth could you possibly think that this ISN'T a flame? My goodness - read your own words! Your telling him that gosh, you don't mean to b e mean, but how do you want that "not normal" statement to be taken? . Choose your words more carefully if you don't want them mis-understood. In my opinion (and yes, it is only MY opinion) the above referenced sentence seems to me, to be a flame - just an "underhanded" one. Let's try this again - everyone please just "think" before you hit that send button.......now go hug your ferrets and stop this ridiculous bantering before someone really gets hurt. [KA] [Posted in FML issue 4623]