From: altheimm@nextnet.csus.edu (Murray Altheim)
Subject: Re: New pagans, reading, and coming out
Organization: California State University Sacramento
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1992 00:03:32 GMT

In article <1992Sep11.231423.26219@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com> (bill nelson) writes:
>ciaran@county.lmt.mn.org (Ciaran Benson) writes:
>: 
>:   It never occurred to me that something as impersonal as a
>: computer network could elicit such feeling, such love, such
>: trust as this.  We are minds touching through a blind screen,
>: and what I feel out there is very, very beautiful.
>
>Surprising, isn't it?
>
>:   And respectful, too.  I thought that I would never understand
>: anything that bill nelson was saying, but I caught a glimpse
>: which quite literally shocked me.  When I turned to look again,
>: the newsreader here had wiped the board to save space, but I
>: think what he mainly said was that no matter how much we may
>: disagree, we respect each other, and learn from the differing
>: views.

[...]

>Please do not consider disagreements, even very strong ones, to be
>flames.  The term is badly misused these days - it should mean when
>a person posts a response in which you are called such things as an
>idiot or moron and then points out why the posting was stupid. As
>such, there are not many flames here - there are a lot of heated
>disagreements.

Well said, bill. In all sincerity, I've been *gradually* learning to 
hone my argumentation skills.  The translation from oral to written in
what could be almost a "real-time" medium is not easy. I'm glad you 
seem to not take my statements as attacks, even when I have mistakenly
made them sound that way. I tend to be quite passionate in discussions,
and as I'm sure anyone in similar circumstances will attest, one has to
tailor one's approach based on the audience. Some people react differently
when encountering a opposing viewpoint. I seldom take things personally,
especially when the other person doesn't know me, and always welcome a
discussion with someone who, like myself, isn't afraid to "mix it up".

>:   But this has helped me more than I can say, that you, people
>: whom I've never met but through writing, can hear my voice and
>: appreciate it gives me the energy I was lacking to go home
>: and write.  And, for once, to write the book I _WANT_ and _NEED_
>: to write, instead of something intended to placate others.
>
>Good. Best of luck on your literary efforts. Maybe, when you feel
>something is ready, you could give us a preview sample?
>
>Bill

I for one look forward to any previews. One of the things I admire about
you both is your willingness to express yourselves with an inherent 
honesty to your own feelings and thoughts. In some ways the two of you
seem to approach life (or at least the discussions here) from complementary
viewpoints, which sometimes contend, other times overlap and enrich. I've
learned to respect and value you both, and as Ciaran has said, I'm also
a little surprised at how an electronic bulletin board could become such
a healthy and enlightening meeting place. It's provided a literal support
network for many of my interests and feelings, which I'd be hard put to  
find somewhere else. 

Blessings to you both,

Murray The Ready for a Skinny-Dipping Weekend.

-- 
Murray M. Altheim      "Ils ont l'orteil de Bouc, & d'un Chevreil l'oreille,
Instructional Consultant    La corne d'un Chamois, & la face vermeille
CSU, Sacramento          Comme un rouge Croissant: & dancent toute nuict
altheimm@csus.edu       Dedans un carrefour, ou pres d'une eau qui bruict."