Dear friends,
Bickering is normal amongst family and friends; but this has reached a
stage when I have to choose a side. Maybe some OT posts about last Tuesday
and its aftermath have been ill judged. Perhaps some of the writers should
have thought more before posting angry, inflammatory, and repeated
messages; or perhaps, under the circumstances, that is far too much to
expect. I have been more or less on the sidelines, but--intemperate or
not--I have to understand, even admire, those people who simply could not
hold there feelings inside. It is not required that I agree with all of them.
The biggest reason I would not willingly part with this list is the
*people* I've met here. I've said this before, but it seems elaboration is
required now. I've learned something about a truly generous spirit from
Tom Scales and Brian Huber. I've learned more about photography than
everything I ever knew and everything I ever forgot, combined, from John
Lind, along with an unstinting willingness to share that know-how. I've
learned a canny business sense from Doris Fang (oh, where is Doris when we
need her?). I've learned the technical side of the Oly world, and a good
deal about unselfish help, from Gary Reese. And I've learned that these
people are willing--they even feel it a duty--to repeat the same basic
information, patiently, for each newcomer (and each one, like me, who knew
but forgot). Susan Steele is a friend; all the people I've mentioned, and
many I've neglected to mention simply because my memory is in pieces, are
friends. I'd give a lot to sit down with any one of you, or better yet,
all of you, and have a beer.
To some, the OT content since last Tuesday has been a nuisance. I can
understand their frustration. I confess that I haven't read it all,
myself; and some of what I have read has not impressed me, even disturbed
me. But if ever there has been a time when it's appropriate to cut folks
some slack, it is now. How can we not be consumed and overwhelmed by
recent events, events that have no parallel in world history, for goodness
sake. (At least, the bombings of Germany, England, and Japan, when entire
cities were obliterated, took place during a declared war when we knew who
the opponent was and had every reason to expect he was coming after
us.) So we've strayed way OT; we've always felt free to do that, and at
least this is a more deserving occasion for it than the Oben (or whoever he
is) uproar. We've just started playing *baseball* again today in the US
(my Braves just lost), and football has yet to recommence. (To those of us
who are not US citizens, these sports are virtual religions here.) How can
we not be talking about what is incomprehensible and yet true? And who
better to hear our feelings than our friends? For those of you who would
like to form a new list, don't worry: we'll return to normalcy at about the
same time the rest of the world does. I'm terribly afraid that we've not
seen the worst of this business yet, and I'm not going to abandon this list
in hard times.
My best regards to all,
John
At 10:36 PM 09/17/2001 +0200, you wrote:
Precisely, Wayne. He can complain that the content isn't solely OM, I may
counter-complain that everything needn't be all the time. Or rather, my
suggestion is that we all just accept the list for what it is.
Tris
I feel obliged to agree with you there, Tris
Henrik Dahl
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