various goodbyes--another word from our sponsor

[Christine Karatnytsky]

John and Chris, this is a sincere request that you reconsider your
decisions to unsubscribe from the P-list.  It is usually a more
interesting if not a better behaved place.

We get into these states every so often, but I am at a loss to explain
why.  Some folks believe it may have to do with intellectual temperament,
but I'm uncertain about this.  I subscribe to three other listservs with
some pretty hefty brain pools and have not witnessed the kind of
exhibitionist acrimony (or acrimonious exhibitionism) we so often find
here.  (I'm not pointing any fingers, btw, as I've have had one in this
particular pie as well.)  Another consideration may be nature of the
subject.  What is it about TRP that attracts such varied, cranky, and
impassioned participants here?  Another consideration may be the screen
we all look at instead of each other's faces.  I think it's true that few
of us would say to another live person some of the things we write
on--and to--the screen.  This is one of the reasons why I take pains to
meet people from the list in real life--to put, to bring, a real face, a
real person, into the picture. 

At any rate, I'm not intending to open this up for conjecture.  I prefer
to keep the speculations, along with any further flaming, off-list.  OK? 
Andrew's going to be posting the next MDMD tomorrow and I hope we can
participate in that discussion with the same vigor with which we have
lacerated each other.  Or heads will roll.

Allow me to advise a tonic deep breath.  Maybe even a deep glass of
tonic, along with some lovely gin and ice.  Take a break if you must,
gentlemen, but please come back.

As for the rest of you, everyone except Steve Maas has to stay after
class.  Oh, all-right, maybe a few others... 

Chris