Paw Paw does not know that I'm writing this. He's very tired and very depressed tonight and, thankfully, he's snoring really good right now. I'm glad. He needs the rest. Please don't tell him that I sneaked out and sent this. He was very happy when Mee Maw agreed that it would be OK if Bear came to live with us. He was sad when he learned that Bear had already been adopted into a good and loving home. I think what really saddened him the most was receiving two letters that had nothing to do with anything that has happened recently. He had thought that those issues had been resolved or laid to rest. Some, appparently, do not feel the same. Neither of us has ever, intentionally, tried to hurt anyone. Our postings have always been intended to share the joy and happiness that results when ferrets and human- type people come together. To us, it is a very special thing. Perhaps we are naive and childish. So be it. We just cannot understand why it is that some people go out of their way to show off how important they think they are. I thought that this list was about us fuzzy little critters - not about people trying to be more important than the rest of us, and going out of their way to be cruel to each other. Paw Paw and I have chosen to walk the path of his Native American ancestors. We choose to ignore those who go out of their way to cause hurt to other people. I know that this causes him great pain, however. He is, after all, a human person. He is not as fortunate as I am. I ask you, therefore, if you do not like what he, or I, have to say, just ignore us. Please do not send us hurtful letters. Please do not unduly criticize anyone else who posts here, and please don't send them hurtful mail. We have as much right to our joys, sorrows and opinions as you do. We would never presume to put you down for what you have to say, unless it hurts us, or anyone else. I look forward, every day, to reading about my ferret brothers and sisters on this list. I don't want to have to shake my head and comfort Paw Paw & Mee Maw, simply because they choose to love me a little differently than someone else would. I certainly would not want to live with people who insist upon sending these hurtfull letters. So please stop. You are welcome to your opinions. Please keep them to yourselves when they have nothing to do with ferrets. (Sorry, BIG. Paw Paw has just received too much unpleasent mail from members of this list for me to remain silent. I love him and that should count for something.) Tater [Moderator's note: For the most part I think the folks on the FML are just WONDERFUL! so, I'm saddened to hear reports like this. While there are certain to be some disagreements given a group this size, I hate to think the FML helps to facilitate hurting others. I only know one side of this report, though there have been other, similar, complaints recently... I hope such behaviour is not destined to be a permanent "side-effect" of subscribing to the FML. BIG] [Posted in FML issue 1450]