Why do people insist on trying to put good companies out of business because of one thing they don't like? A business works hard to get the best product out they can, they do their best to help, not hurt... they do one thing which someone disagrees to... and all of a sudden, they're public enemy #1. In this particular case, I'm referring to, of course, Modern Ferret. Modern Ferret has scratched their way through an uncharted sea in an area they had little experience in, because they saw a need and decided to fill it. They weren't looking for a profit, any more than I believe that I can make a profit on breeding my ferrets. Sure, you get money in, but it sure doesn't pay all the bills spent in making the product (whether ferret or ferret magazine) as good and 'healthy' as it ends up being. I've had experience with ferrets and with putting out a publication. Working until 3am and getting up at 7am to start again is not only not unusual, it's downright common. Not only do Eric and Mary put out these hours in actually publishing this, which is hard in itself, but Eric does a lot of the magazines photos, and Mary contributes a lot of wonderful articles. People have complained about how Eric does all the photos and Mary does all the articles in the past. In my opinion, having an obviously talented photographer and a more than obviously talented writer who *both* know what they're doing is wonderful. So what if they run the magazine? All the better, because it means talented people run the mag, and they're also people who love what they're doing! I've noticed a trend for people to go for the jugular where possible. People who are offended at something Ferrets magazine does stop buying the magazine. People who are offended at something Modern Ferret does tell the stores to stop supplying the magazine! People seem to sense a weakness, and Modern Ferrets weakness is that it isn't supported by a large corporation, they're run by two people. Alone. They pay the print bills alone, they do the setup alone. They take the calls alone, they take the photos, make the articles, approve others articles.... alone. Ferrets magazine can hire someone else if they want something new. Modern Ferret just takes on more work because their readers have stated they'd like something new, and they've done it. I'm not only talking about this Halloween issue. I'm talking about the Tiffany issue, the issues in the past where people have moaned that Eric and Mary have stuff about themselves in it, and all the other issues mentioned before. If you have an issue with Modern Ferret, take it to Modern Ferret. If that issue has something to do with a misprint (like on Ferrets magazine which gave an incorrect dosage of meds in one issue and never retracted it) then it should be made public knowledge. If it's something that you, personally are offended with, like the centrefold... take the magazine back, cancel your subscription, but you don't have to tell everyone that the magazine is evil because of a difference of opinion on what is or is not funny. Personally, I think the easiest thing to do is buy the cover 'without gore' and glue the centrefold page. Then you can't see the centrefold picture and still have the information which Modern Ferret is so good at providing. Personally, I feel that cancelling a subscription to Modern Ferret would mean no longer getting the little tidbits of information that I so readily enjoy reading, and missing out on seeing fellow ferret lovers photos of their furbrats and... well, I'm not sure I could do that for one picture which people were warned about some time ago. Sam [Posted in FML issue 2784]