>Mr. C
>
>The coffee discussions have everything to do with Washington birds! Our
>having warblers, vireos, flycatchers, thrushes, and many other species
>migrating through and/or nesting in this state are dependent on the
>integrity of the wintering grounds. (Hum, a neat pun for a coffee
>discussion......). At any rate, the issue is a MAJOR concern about the
>the very real conflict between increasing human demand for coffee and the
>alarming decline of tropical habitat to support flora and fauna. Of
>course, it is not just coffee, but if modern-sun vs. old-shade coffee
>cultivation is one of the reversible causes of wiping out bird habitat,
>then we coffee consumers can do something about that cause!
>
>Tweeters is a marvelous forum to create, nurture, and launch ideas that
>may become a worthwhile ACTION. Mr. Cozens, since you have freed up time
>by no longer participating in this newsgroup, perhaps you can serve even
>better in some capacity as a responsible citizen activist. In case you
>haven't noticed, the birds need all the help they can get!
>
>Expecting good work from you.........go for it!
>
>Maureen E Ellis me2 at u.washington.edu Univ of WA and Des Moines WA



I'm sorry, Maureen. IMHO, you missed the point.

When posts are being sent that educate us as to the environmental practices
of businesses, yes, that is useful, and highly appropriate to tweeters.

But when the posts reach the point that they have degenerated to bickering
over points of view or semantics between different posters, then maybe it's
time that someone realize that the posts have gotten too personal and are
not of interest to the group as a whole.

Diversity, yes. But let us try to apply the filter: is this interesting
to the group as a whole? I really enjoy tweeters, but I do at times
exercise the delete key. Nevertheless, it does seem that in the last
couple of months people have jumped to take sides on various issues
(grammar, being another thread that comes to mind) when it hardly seemed to
me that an "us or them" mentality was needed.

Maybe we just need spring to get here in full?

Cheers,

Tim

Tim Shelmerdine
Lake Oswego/Aurora, Oregon
shelmert at mail.clackesd.k12.or.us