From: cpetersky@mousepotato.com 
  
 "Lionel"  wrote in message 
 news:rl43k0180t8e9i8oc2d2m02luhfuhqdm4f@4ax.com... 
  
 > Why should people who do nothing at all to contribute to the collective 
 > wisdom of a technical newsgroup have any say at all in how it's managed? 
  
 Many lurkers do not post publicly, but do contribute to a newsgroup's 
 community. This is especially true in newsgroups that deal with personal 
 issues. As a long time poster in the misc.kids.* hierarchy, I know that 
 there are lots people who are reluctant to say things publicly about 
 themselves and their families, but will email posters privately with advice 
 and support. These people consider themselves to be members of the newsgroup 
 community, and I agree. 
  
 I lurk in a newsgroup that has a poisonous atmosphere, but there are 
 individual posters who I think are reasonable. I make comments on their 
 posts privately. I would have a definitely stake in changes to this 
 newsgroup or in the nearby namespace, especially if it changed the tone of 
 the discourse. 
  
  
 -- 
 Warm Regards, 
  
 Claire Petersky 
 please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply 
 Home of the meditative cyclist: 
 http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm 
 Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/ 
 See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)