At 08:52 AM 5/8/01 -0700, Brian Cochran wrote:

>Mr. Walters, I have a grip.  I wonder about you spending so much time on
>giving me info I don't want.  I had a bad experience and I want others to
>know about.  I have that right.  Courtesy should accompany list dealings,
>since there are not any of the ebay rules of protection.   I did not
>receive courtesy.  I didn't even receive all that I paid for.  What do say
>to that?  I had numerous "talks" with chris, asking about where my order
>was, when it was coming, etc. NUMEROUS.  I'm tired.  I don't feel this
>much work should go into anything.  And yes, I'm posting this on the list.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Brian Cochran

Okay, to those clamoring for some stirring commentary, I will say something
at the risk of another suspension.  : )
My personal thoughts on the Cochran-Turner thread?

A victory for U.S. Const. Amend I !   That's what my distinguished
colleague would say.  Long live the First Amendment right insisted upon by
the founding fathers.  You can thank them for this list, too.  Yeah right,
you say?  Does anyone have any idea of the magnitude of the power of
freedom of speech??  Think about it for one minute -- one full minute of
being forced to keep your mouth shut.

But this thread is interesting to me because it presents an interesting
case microstudy in popular attitudes.
The thread seems to have taken on a sort of popularity contest with its
goal of defeating the negativism by overpowering it with what my old
Juvenile Judge would have said is "nicey-nice" talk.
Alas, all the good comments in the world still cannot undo the wrong, if
true.  Like the sting of the arrow into the heart once released from the
mighty bowstring, the pain of misdeeds or untruth does not soon fade away.
Just some thoughts.

It matters not who is right or wrong in this thread -- what matters is to
put the community on notice.  In the end, each must act on his or her own
best interest.  I make no judgments.  Notice (warning or cause to
investigate further) is derived clearly from free speech.  Without it, we
are all in peril.

Suffice to say that this thread, though born of negativity, will produce a
greater good.  Why?  ALL parties on the list will be more careful in their
transactions.

Until it happens again . . .

But then history teaches us that man learns nothing from history.  It will
repeat.  It is inevitable.

horace