While I appreciate the camaraderie of the list, I gotta admit that the last
couple wars (I pay taxes so the road's mine" & something else), I was on the
verge of quitting this mess.

I've met some great folks here and communicate with a few of them off-list
(met several, too!), but it really is a bit of an emotional strain watching
this thing occasionally trying to tear itself apart.  I'd kinda like to see
TC take a bit stronger action against those who have absolutely no regard
for the rules of the list.

When I joined (two years ago, I think), there were a lot of off-topic posts,
just like there are now, but they weren't mean-spirited or political.  The
signal to noise ration was comfortable,much like sitting down to dinner with
friends who share a common interest; if I had a question about how to fry a
catfish (poor example) I would likely get a useful and civil answer from one
quarter or another.

The only big issue back then was one on gun control and the big Arkady/Nazi
thing.  Now we seem to be skirting the edges of divisiveness on a weekly
basis.  I don't know if the old balance is retrievable, but I'm most likely
not hanging around much longer if these same folks are going to continue to
tear things apart.  We've lost a lot of talented individuals, and to
continue to do so is a pity.

Chris, thanks for bringing this up, as it has been on my mind for a while
and you got me off the dime to comment on it.

Karl Wolz

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Stann" <ChrisS@INFORMS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 7:32 AM
Subject: IS THE LIST GETTING SMALLER?

> Greetings fellow Vanagonites.
>
> While attending the fine Full Moon in June event in North Carolina I had
an
> opportunity to talk to a few EX-list members.  Interestingly enough all of
> them left because of the excessive RANTING and non-vanagon related banter.
> All of them mentioned the "veggie-wars" and "latina-driver" flame wars
that
> were indicative of the  intolerant, narrow-minded, and outspoken minority
of
> the list.
>
> Surely, if a few people I met quit the list, dozens more I have not met
must
> have done same for like reasons.  I myself have "set vanagon nomail".
>
> Is this a sign of the end?  Is the ship sinking?  IS THE LIST GETTING
> SMALLER?
>
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Chris
> '85 Westy
> "Hey mister, you bought a camel and you want it prance like a stallion?"