Y2k is certainly a hotbutton issue for many of us, regardless of our personal views and/or affiliations. The subject has become very polarizing, and this polarization leads to suspicion of intent or motive on both sides of the issue. As humans, those of us with opposing viewpoints have a tendency in these situations to call into question each other's agenda, professionalism, or parental lineage, ostensibly driven by a passion to get to some "ultimate truth".

Well, gentle readers, I'm here to tell you that there is no "ultimate truth" in Y2k. But we're not even going to get close to some common understanding (much less "ultimate truth") unless we can treat each other with a modicum of respect.

Over the past few weeks, I've noticed a decreasing trend in the civility of discourse on the euy2k.com forum. Rhetoric and ad hominems have historically had no place in this forum, and as long as it's operational, won't have a place at the table. One of the things that has distinguished this forum from all other public Y2k forums is the manner in which we communicate with each other. Yeah, I've slapped a few people around, and I've been slapped around a bit myself. But generally, while we challenge each other, we have done so with respect.

I want to ask everyone to maintain the integrity of this forum by treating the person on the other end of your rant as a person with true beliefs and a technical basis for those beliefs, whether pessimistic, optimistic or somewhere inbetween. Regardless of beliefs, everyone has some degree of personal dignity, and when you challenge that dignity, the discussion can only deteriorate from there.

We (the collective "we") have become, in many ways non-Y2k, less tolerant of views that contrast with our personal experiences and what we ass/u/me to be the "ultimate truth". A wise man (or maybe it was a woman!) once said that you do not learn or grow until someone challenges your personal status quo. If you are not open to learning something that challenges your personal status quo, or contributing or taking back something useful from this forum, then there's no reason for you to be here.

I'll leave you with one thought, expressed quite well in a previous posting of mine, and shamelessly lifted from a good friend who used to post in comp.software.year-2000. As I said before to CL, it really, really applies to this forum, like no other on the web, and is what makes this forum somewhat unique:

 On 13 Oct 1998 01:20:16 GMT, in comp.software.year-2000 Ron Kenyon wrote:

>You find yourself in the company of giants - of many different 
>backgrounds - some of whom would let you stand on their shoulders, if 
>you could recognize them, and ask nicely.
>
>And dwarves, some of whom would share useful magic, if you could 
>recognize them, and ask nicely.
>
>And trolls, among others...

-- Anonymous, May 25, 1999

Answers

Thank you Rick for raising this issue in "Decorum and this forum" , and equally a thank you to Bonnie for your interesting and right-on follow-up in "Spock, McCoy and Kirk" ( is Spock the one you identify most with, as you put him first?). Everyone can recognize something about themselves and their friends in these summary characters - a good example of what I would like to briefly comment on.

It is interesting Rich that what you are addressing in the microcosm of this forum is now occuring in the macrocosm of the whole world and its complex systems of relationships, both human and non-human. If we do not individually and collectively learn and implement the moral law of "Cooperation + Tolerance = Peace"TM (see: "http://www.peacesite.org ), then it will not matter if Y2K is a non-event.

Functioning electrical systems can be bombed or nuked, along with their associated populations. That is the real danger of this present time, which is tending to devolve into mutual intolerance and non-cooperation, rather than evolve into a sustainable future. If the 24th century of Star Trek or something like it is to manifest, we better learn as fast at the emotional level as we have at the technical level, or the future will not include us humans. Or potentially even the planet itself, and all of its inhabitants.

As Bonnie reiterated: ' "Anyone remember one of the responses to "Live long and prosper?" "Peace, and long life." '

Peace, in this forum, and the world, and long life to you and all.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 1999

I hang around this forum precisely because it is populated by adults, (and because this is the only place I know where I can read Bonnies's posts.) When you think things are getting out of hand, let me ive you some links where you can go and see what adolescents really look like.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 1999

Have cooled off now, timely message Rick, keep us straight...Can we get Jon Hyland, Jim, and maybe Drew to start the group hug? ;)

Regards,

-- Anonymous, May 26, 1999

Drew's on vacation, I haven't used my "Y2k compliant" right guard today (that's an advantage of being able to sometimes telecommute!), and I don't think Jon's your type. ;-)

Oh, and re: Bubba, I went back and looked at that original posting, and I swear to God I thought he was referring to POTUS. Go back and read it again and substitute "Clinton" for "Bubba" and see what you get.

Lastly, I wasn't referring to anyone in particular or any particular posting. The general tenor of the forum was more the point. There's gotta be some balance that keeps the edge of the forum and keeps us constructively learning and on speaking terms with one another.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 1999