Yes, yes, oh yes!! Get the news out of how things should be done....us
newbies need and truly want to know whether we admit it or not. We want
to respect both the tradition and those who cling to and/or started the
tradition. The only way to learn the rules is to hear/read them, no?
I read with fascination many of the non-newbies postings and can't help
but contemplate with admiration your attempts to keep this past time on
a clear path...not only will this help us all now, but will no doubt
help the next generations as well!! Here's to you all and your
passion!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bring on the terms and conditions and we will do
our best to uphold!!!! Don't want to spoil anyone's fun...most
important my own~ Would love to hear about boxes in Oregon...email
offlist if you'd prefer!

----Original Message-----
From: abacus00 [mailto:abacus00@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 13:38
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LbNA] The best of intentions

I've been pondering "Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to
suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to
take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end
them?" But having been accused of, at the very least,
heresy, I have a couple points I'd like to make.

I didn't understand that the mantra "There are no rules"
meant "except if you should choose to do anything different
from me." At the time I put up the database, a few short days
ago which somehow seems much longer, a major topic on this
talk list was whether the list should be broken up due in
large part to some peoples' opposition to the posting of
general boxing reports (dare I call them sit reps) to the
talk list. Not wanting to see the list break up (I'm no
longer of the opinion that would be a bad thing), I decided
to experiment with the database. I naively thought it might
be a way to get the armed camps to quit taking pot shots at
one another.

Wait, that did work. Now most of the shots are going at the
database. I thought it might be a way to get the reports
removed from the talk list making one group happy and giving
others a better way of tracking the reports making them happy
as well. Like I said, naive. I expected of those who tried it,
that some might find it useful while others would not. But I
must admit I never expected the vehemence with which some would
oppose the very existance of a database -- I thought if they
didn't like it they would simply choose not to use it. Wow,
was I wrong! Some have suggested that it is perfectly okay
to search the list archives for updates on boxing status, but
that brings us full circle back to those who hate the reports
being on the list and those who love them.

I've read every letterboxing site I could find on the web and
nowhere did I run across the tenet that one should not discuss
with others the results of a hunt except for spoilers. If those
who have been around letterboxing for a long time really want to
see it grow in only certain directions I urge you to get your
rules out where newbys can find them.

I was hoping this list would supply a place to discuss "all
things" pertaining to letterboxing in a fun supportive, atmosphere.
The fun has been gone recently. Let's hope it comes back.

In the meantime, I'm going boxing.

--Mahjong









Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

The recent threads have been a real bummer and are the main reason I
rarely post on this site anymore. I have been one of the
contentious people who has knee-jerk reactions to opinionated
postings and have found no satisfaction in the pursuit. I find it
best to ignore the discontent. Or I just laugh really hard at how
worked up y'all get.

I think a quote from Mel Brooks is appropriate here...

"If a man dies of cancer, that is a tragedy. If he falls into an
open sewer and dies, that is a comedy."

Do me a favor. If you lost your favorite uncle in a tragic sewer
accident, send the flames directly to my mailbox. There is too much
hate mail on this site already.

Kisses,

Tammy
ADG #1


--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "abacus00"
wrote:
> I've been pondering "Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to
> suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to
> take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end
> them?" But having been accused of, at the very least,
> heresy, I have a couple points I'd like to make.
>
> I didn't understand that the mantra "There are no rules"
> meant "except if you should choose to do anything different
> from me." At the time I put up the database, a few short days
> ago which somehow seems much longer, a major topic on this
> talk list was whether the list should be broken up due in
> large part to some peoples' opposition to the posting of
> general boxing reports (dare I call them sit reps) to the
> talk list. Not wanting to see the list break up (I'm no
> longer of the opinion that would be a bad thing), I decided
> to experiment with the database. I naively thought it might
> be a way to get the armed camps to quit taking pot shots at
> one another.
>
> Wait, that did work. Now most of the shots are going at the
> database. I thought it might be a way to get the reports
> removed from the talk list making one group happy and giving
> others a better way of tracking the reports making them happy
> as well. Like I said, naive. I expected of those who tried it,
> that some might find it useful while others would not. But I
> must admit I never expected the vehemence with which some would
> oppose the very existance of a database -- I thought if they
> didn't like it they would simply choose not to use it. Wow,
> was I wrong! Some have suggested that it is perfectly okay
> to search the list archives for updates on boxing status, but
> that brings us full circle back to those who hate the reports
> being on the list and those who love them.
>
> I've read every letterboxing site I could find on the web and
> nowhere did I run across the tenet that one should not discuss
> with others the results of a hunt except for spoilers. If those
> who have been around letterboxing for a long time really want to
> see it grow in only certain directions I urge you to get your
> rules out where newbys can find them.
>
> I was hoping this list would supply a place to discuss "all
> things" pertaining to letterboxing in a fun supportive,
atmosphere.
> The fun has been gone recently. Let's hope it comes back.
>
> In the meantime, I'm going boxing.
>
> --Mahjong

Mahjong,
While I'm a newbie and do not presume to speak for all, and cannot
appreciate every viewpoint out there, I think what you did with the
new Database is great. The fact that a new *ahem* discussion has
started, has nothing to do with you personally, and I think it is
clear that your intentions are honorable. So from this corner, you get
my whole hearted applause for all the thought, effort, time and
reasons that you put into it.

Clapping loudly, catbead

Good forYou.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> I've been pondering "Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to
> suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune

Dude, I adore Hamlet! A thousand apologies if my words about the
database hurt: I can see how they would and assure you they weren't
intended as a personal attack. It was thoughtless of me not to
preface my pomposity with something like "I know Mahjong put this up
in good faith and appreciate the effort it took." Again, sorry!

Jay in CT