From: lavlba@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Los Alamos VLBA site)
Subject: Re: an idea
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro NM
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 92 00:19:07 GMT

SENDER: gdunn@vlbacc.AOC.NRAO.EDU (Gene Dunn)


I have been reading r.f.v. for several months now.  Although I had been 
leaning toward vegetarianism for many years it was this group that finally 
motivated me to go through with it.  Several people were very gracious in 
sending me recipes and information in addition to that which was posted.  I 
have found this group really serves as a support group for me and it has been 
instrumental in helping me make the transition.  To all of you who have 
contributed in a positive and informative manner I express my appreciation 
and thanks.

I do not support the idea of splitting r.f.v. into two groups.  For someone 
like myself (and my partner who says he will be meat free by ninety-three) 
both the informative debates and the recipes are important.  It is a shame 
that the so called flame wars which seem to involve about four people have 
degraded the quality of this group to the point where people want to leave it 
or split it up.  I find the immaturity of the flamers to be amazing.  It is 
the all too familiar case of the few ruining things for the many.

I would ask you few people to honestly examine your motives for your actions; 
are you really trying to be appreciative and contributive members of this group
or are you just trying to perform one-upmanship before a captive worldwide 
audience?  What you are really achieving is giving the group outstanding 
examples of just how immature the policy of one-upmanship really is.  Is this 
the kind of dialog you would proudly show your children and encourage them to 
emulate?  As so many others have pointed out, nothing is ever resolved by this 
kind of conduct and, if you really are in fact trying to change the other 
person's mind, you are doing just the opposite.  Did they ever change your 
mind?  And as for those of you who send hate mail; have you ever stopped to 
think of how pathetic such conduct really is and what it says about you?

I would like to remind those of you who may have forgotten that it is 
difficult enough to communicate in person where body and tonal language can 
be observed. These, however, are missing from the written word and given the 
minimal time most of us have to write postings and to reply to them we end up 
sending material teeming with the possibilities for misinterpretation of tone 
and, therefor, intent.  I have often read postings in which I perceived a 
certain tone only to find later that others have perceived an entirely 
different one.  We may be writing in English, but we represent many different
countries and cultures which also greatly exacerbates the problem.  When in 
doubt ask.  Kindly.  Please!

I would vote against splitting the group and I would ask the few who are 
ruining it for the rest of us to try to rise above such petty quibbling.  Life 
is too short and truths are too hard to ascertain without wasting the little 
time we have on this planet on such foolishness.  And thus you have my two 
cents worth.

-Gene  

Disclaimer: The above opinions are my own and not those of NRAO or AU, Inc.
================================================================================
Gene Dunn - N7CDJ
National Radio Astronomy Observatory VLBA Site at Los Alamos, New Mexico
E-Mail: gdunn@vlbacc.AOC.NRAO.EDU  
================================================================================
Newsgroups: rec.food.veg