On Wed, 28 Jan 1998, Kyle Hamish Elliott wrote:
>> >Swainson's Thrush 2 (she tells me they were definitely Swainson's, no red
>> >tail and didn't bob tail; but as I don't know (xxxxxxx) very well, I'm not
>> >sure how experienced she is)
and Michael Price replied:
> >> I'm not sure that doubting the credibility of someone's skills in public is
> >> the best of manners, Kyle; I'm sure there are more tactful ways to handle
> >> your reservations about the validity of someone's sightings.

Michael,
on the other hand, I am not sure whether criticizing someone's faux-pas in
public is the best of manners. I go public with that to express my
support and gratitude for anybody who is actually DOING something out there.
For heaven's sake, Michael, he is still a kid! (Kyle can blast me for that
one)
Ah yes, there is the connection to tweeters: There is inexperience
in identification skills, and there is inexperience in writing up a
report - both needs nurturing. Patronizing, Michael, can drive away the
future birdwatcher.

[mea culpa: a long overdue public apology for patronizing to Martha
Jordan, on an unrelated topic]

Reto Riesen
Dept. Chem., UBC
Vancouver, B.C.
riesenr at chem.ubc.ca