Hi Peter and everyone,



As someone who has kept 'a' (not 'the') thread going, let me chime in in defense of Hal (and I believe Dan would have done the same thing.? In my mind, as touched on off-list with a couple folks, there were really two threads starting and 'the infamous' cat thread is truly best kept off the list.? I believe Hal has shown good judgment in letting the general what-do-owls-eat thread going, because that really is a completely valid topic for Tweeters.? What Hal and Dan correctly headed off at the pass was the infamous cat thread that gets into the topic of inside versus outside cats versus birders and opinions about the judgment thereof.? The subject of whether cats belong outside or not has such embittered and entrenched opinions on both sides that it inevitably becomes personal.



The string which has kept going hasn't really been opining on the wisdom of cats (or dogs, for that matter) being outside - it's simply talking about observations about small mammal prey items by raptors without the preaching and arm-waving.



I for one greatly enjoy the fact that this listserv requires people to use real names and locations - there's nothing worse to me than someone who lobs a verbal grenade from the sidelines?and then?hides safely in the cloak of anonymity.? Also, through long and sad experience, Hal and other long-timers on the list have seen the taboo topics of outside vs. inside cats, hunting and politics degenerate into what so many other lists (some of which I've quit as a result) degenerate into - vitriol, personal attacks and these to no particular good end.



My hat's off to Hal, Dan and other long-timers on this list for creating a tremendous and almost-always polite and respectful list.? It seems to be a very rare and valuable commodity these days.



Regards,



John Tubbs

Snoqualmie, WA

johntubbs at comcast.net

www.tubbsphoto.com






----- Original Message -----
From: iwhonever at comcast.net
To: Tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 11:16:19 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Subject: [Tweeters] Over-reaction by list-list owner helper or whatever his title may be?




Tweeters members:



I just wanted to say I've been following the thread on owls and what they feed on. I for one really have enjoyed hearing about the encounters of owls and their prey - ?like cats.? It has been very interesting. I feel, in my opinion, it was a bit over the top for Mr. Opperman to try and stop this thread simply because he deemed that it might? "heat up"?? And by the way, the thread was not called "Kitty Talk" !? (It's as if Mr. Opperman wants to start a flame of?controversy with his own choice of words!) This is not the first time the I feel Mr. Opperman has overstepped his role in the operation of this list in my opinion - just my opinion...



What happened to Dan victor??I thought he was the list-owner? ?Did he turn it over to Mr. Opperman? I think Dan was not as over reactive as Mr. Opperman. I hate to think that we can't even use the word "cat" when writing a post. I do not think that was the intent of the rule about cats. An open and interesting discussion of owls and the fact that they feed on cats, dogs, or any other creature should not be banned on Tweeters simply because one?over-reactive person is afraid it might "heat up". Let?Tweeters be?Tweeters? Mr. Opperman!?If and when a thread does indeed goes too far?and start to "heat up" then and only then should it be called out as inappropriate! Not before the fact!



I see a few people have continued to keep the thread up by just changing the title. Good for you all!



Again, ?just my opinion, love to hear yours.??Let the flames fly :-)? Unlike Mr.Opperman I can enjoy "heat" now and again!











Peter Hammill

Seattle, Wa 98020

iwhonever at comcast.net

_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters at u.washington.edu http://mailman2.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters