[meteorite-list] Bernd on not feeding the ducks.

From: bernd.pauli_at_paulinet.de <bernd.pauli_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:31:12 2004
Message-ID: <DIIE.0000003800001E26_at_paulinet.de>

I know I am riding the ten-ten line but here we go:

I wrote:

> Another list motto could be a passage from Condoleezza Rice's
> remarks today: "... it is that we cannot wait while dangers gather."

M. Blood responded:

> Do you have suggestions on how
> not to wait while dangers gather?

Well, instead of leaning back and passing out popcorn for the ringside watchers
of the nasty list fights and backstabbings, we had better step in and caution people
about possible consequences. You did just that, Michael, when you wrote these lines
to the List on February 29. This was quick, this was brave, this was daring and risky:

"Michael Farmer and all others tempted ... I don't know about the rest of you,
but I would like Bernd back on this list. He clearly will not be a member if there
is bickering name calling. Sincerely, Michael"

You clearly did not want to stand idle and wait while dangers were again gathering!

Just the opposite was true last October before I unsubscribed. Nobody even tried
to "restore a bit of law and order" while some list members ranted and raved almost
non-stop. I tried to make the list aware of what was unfolding, I tried to put it with a
grain of humor ... list members did not react, zero, zilch, nothing. Here is what I wrote:

"October's harvest (and the month is not over yet): dipshit - crap - nitwit - idiot - rip off
- piss off - spam stupidity - idiocy - money-hungry dealer - coward - ass - ... (only an
excerpt - any meteorites out there ? ;-)"

Instead, quite a few list members excelled in the systematic demise of another
list member who wrote to the List after the tragic events of 9/11, 2001:

"Hello all, I personally and the Italian State express the most
felt condolences for the victims of the terrible attacks today."

Such words were a sure proof of that list member's pro-American sympathies.
I am not trying to plead a case for this list member, he did plunder, he had made
quite a few mistakes but it was and still is wrong to only descend on him while
those who clearly provoked several of his reactions, got away "unscathed", and
the list chose to wait while dangers gathered.

And dangers did gather and culminate in the disgusting, nauseating, despicable
and utterly offensive T-shirt affair with people "proudly showing off this T-shirt" at
the Tucson Mineral and Gem Show ... and both the Tuscon attendees and the List
chose to let it happen instead of interfering, instead of putting an end to such a
hoopla.

But the "cream of the crop"for me was when a list member publicly denounced on
his website the one figured on the T-shirt comparing him to used toilet paper and
finding him guilty of being an idiot.

Most of us have seen and read this disrespectful comment but chose
to wait while dangers gathered at the horizon. Hostilities broke out again
a few days ago and resulted in an unprecedented series of "good byes":

Entropy Dave, Mexico Doug, Howard, Timothy, ... to name a few.

I would like to share with you the words that finally brought
me back to the List. The author .... well, Mexico Doug !!!

"All I know is that the list has become much more civil lately and I would like to
personally invite you back to join on a trial basis. We really need people like you
there, because the less good people there are are the less interesting topics
become in general. The "network effect". What good is having a telephone if you
are the only one ... So please come back to the list and help keep the topics
interesting. You're not alone and the losers from your departure are only people like
us (the people that aren't barbaric flamers), and we need to maintain critical mass,
so what do you say to that ... Saludos, Doug"

M. Blood responded:

> Do you have suggestions on how
> not to wait while dangers gather?

Step in, put a halt to anything that might hurt a list member's feelings, stick to that
which brings us together => meteorites, discuss things without abusing people's
reputation, be critical but not abusive.

Do not always try to call upon Art to step in for us and our wrongdoings, he is wise
enough to stay out of such petty quarrels. Do not leave this list but raise your finger
as soon as any form of haggling starts again before it turns into someone's demise.

And, ... I am tired of using my delete key. This can't be the real thing to delete nine
out of ten posts unless you want to live with such comments from a *very* respected
list member: "Hi Bernd, I hardly read the list anymore. I have been hitting the delete
button more often than not."

Best wishes,

Bernd

To: Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
Cc: mcomemeteorite2000_at_yahoo.it
Received on Thu 08 Apr 2004 04:57:06 PM PDT