> Russel has a point, new people are attracted to a forum if they are
> welcomed.

What?
Who me?
Innocent I say!    :-)

Roman started this.
I've said nothing on this thread so far. But perhaps you are referring to
recent prior comments I made, in which case I'd have to plead guilty. I
agree with the sentiment anyway.

Of late I occasionally send soothing offlist messages to newer members who
have been somewhat savaged by the more enthusiastic
putters-of-right-to-wrong-ers (maybe that was backwards :-) ) (maybe not).
Head on confrontation with those who abuse the new and bewildered, whatever
their intentions,  leads to more shouting and arm waving and further
disturbs the neophites. Alas.

Now where do I find those boltcutters?

> I tend to try to answer questions I think are fairly basic, and
> try to do it in a nonthreatening way.   There is no use in pointing out
> that somebody else is an idiot, when I make so many idiotic mistakes
> myself.

This argument doesn't work if the person pointing out their problems is
perfect, or feels that they are. Unfortunately when one is on the delivering
end of a "mild corection" ("You blithering idiot, ...") it can be hard to
see how painful it can feel to the recipient. Reprimands delivered in public
often have added weight. Even this entirely general, and obviously non
targetted set of comments of mine :-) could be slightly annoying and painful
and feel like directed personal criticism to some few list members. (((If
not I'm losing my touch.   :-)  )))



        Russell McMahon

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