On 2 Oct 2006 20:51:41 -0700, "Jay Honeck" wrote
in . com:

Your noble attempt to champion the timid reflects your view of what
Usenet should be: a place to kibitz with friends. Although many
newsgroups have degenerated to that level, thankfully this one hasn't
yet. That's what makes it attractive and useful. When it becomes a
bunch of grandmas chatting over the back fence, you will not see me
posting any longer.

What you fail to see is that your harsh criticism of anything you find
less than worthy is keeping many educated, experienced airmen from
posting.

First, you'll have to provide a few examples of what you find
objectionable about what it is I said before I will accept your "harsh
criticism" assertion.

Further, you make me laugh when you assert that I have the power to
prevent "many educated, experienced airmen" from participating in the
newsgroup. That is absurd on face. I'm afraid I'm completely
unworthy of the power with which you endow me, as are we all. Usenet
has always been open to all who choose to avail themselves of
participation.

And, beyond that, why isn't it the vulgar and insipid posts that
prevent folks from wanting to be counted among the
rec.aviation.piloting readership?

What are you suggesting exactly, that all us who you deem "harsh
critics" silence ourselves or self-censor our comments to suit the
silent ones? Are you able to be explicit about exactly what it is you
want?

Your verbal barbs, meant to be smart bombs, are actually
closer to carpet bombing in their effect.

Again, without examples of what you characterize as "verbal barbs,"
your allegations are meaningless.

And the resulting collateral damage is killing our allies as well as
the enemy.

Oh please! I was raised in a family that enjoyed long and sometimes
heated political debates whenever they got together. Pilots are often
a rather direct and terse in their conversation, but that is not a bad
thing in my opinion; it's just different.

The way I see it, if civility is maintained, and denigration, libel,
and profanity are avoided, there is no valid reason for complaint.
Some folks see argument, debate, and discussion as hostile, but you've
got to admit they are the domain of Congress and thinking people
everywhere. So if that's what frightens the "many educated,
experienced airmen" you champion, I'm unswayed.

Please, let's not welcome those comments that would cause the lay
public to think we airmen are a bunch of vulgar simpletons and
Philistines who lack critical thinking skills.

First you do everything you can to keep people -- especially the lay
public -- from posting here.

Now that is a completely unfounded accusation. Perhaps you'll see
that in the morning.

In the next breath you're worried about what they might think of us?

I'm not worried about anything. I just prefer not to see our fellow
airmen publicly embarrass themselves and reflect badly on us all
generally in an archived, worldwide forum. I'm sure you appreciate
the fact that the articles we post to Usenet are not ephemeral.

Obviously we are at opposite ends of the spectrum on this issue. I
have history on my side.

I, unlike you, enjoy posts of all sorts in this group,

I guess I'm just a little more discriminating than you are.

but (in case you haven't noticed) the posting group has recently shrunk
to historically low numbers. There seems to be about 20 regular posters
left here, which is down considerably from past years.

So now you're implying, that my articles are not only prohibiting
"many educated, experienced airmen from posting," but they are
reducing the number of regular contributors? Ridiculous.

I attribute this to a number of things, but one major reason is the
harsh slap-downs that many new posters have received when they stuck
their toe in the rec.aviation waters...

Well, you are certainly free to reach any conclusions you please. But
I haven't seen anyone leave for that reason. Perhaps you'll be good
enough to provide reference to some articles that support your
unfounded notion.

There are certainly other reasons folks cease to participate in
Usenet. But regardless of how you see it, you've got to admit there
is a wealth of information posted in this newsgroup and a lot of
experienced pilots and mechanics who generously share their knowledge
here.

Take my fellow Californian, Mr. Weir. He is often less than cordial,
but he is also often a fountain of information. Or Mr. Duniho's often
deliberately abrasive manner. People like these are the true
educated, experienced airmen you should be thankful for. Are you
suggesting that they change their demeanor too, or just me?

So tell your fawning "educated, experienced airmen" to quit wining,
and join in the discussion. Who knows, their fragile psyches may
toughen up, and they may grow a little, but they will surely benefit
from the experience, as you have.