I am inspired to write this message based on the mail I got from the ML
of all places.  It described how upset an author was, and I sent a reply
to it already.  However, it did strike a chord inside of me, and I feel
that I must respond to it in a general way.

	Spam is the nickname for the off the wall topics that spring up
anywhere.  We know this, and we accept it.  Spam is a fact of life, and
no ML, newsgroup, or conversation is truly without it.  Each person must
decide for themselves if the spam is too much to handle.

	On a ML such as this, spam and Fanfics go hand in hand.  I have seen
fanfics based on spam, and spam based on fanfics.  discussions take
place over plot lines, characters, and general BS, all of which can help
writers out of jams in their stories.  Also, though, spam can be a
nonsensical wave of irrelivant messages, and usually those can be picked
up fairly quickly, and skipped if the reader so desires.  Alas, it seems
that once in a while, Fanfics get caught by that worn out delete key.  I
myself have, once or twice, done exactly that.  Fortunatly, my mailer
has a trash folder, where messages are sent before final deletion, so I
can usually recover them.  Others may not be so lucky, though.

	If anyone has a problem with someone else on this ML, please take it up
via private Email.  I know that I was not thrilled with the post that I
got, and it was not even directed toward me.  All it will accomplish is
to force the lurkers deeper into the shadows, and maybe even force
regular posters into lurker mode.  That would be devistating to ANY ML,
but this one in specific relies on the responses of others.

	I am going to leave it at that, for now, as it is very late, and I have
a job that requires me to be at least a little alert.  But, for you
lurkers out there, if you ever get the time, post here.  Let us know
that you were not driven away by one disgruntled person.

-- 
Slashtooth@evnet.com
Remeber, No matter where you go, there you are. - Buckaroo Banzai
Applicant to the Holy Order of Ukyo
Member, Okonomiyaki's Anonymous.
Maker of Ryogaese maps - Everything's on 'em, somewhere.