Rick, and Steve:

Thank you for your well advised comments. I really feel badly (well, just plain stupid, really) about this. I'm still relatively new to crossposting, providing workable links, and applicable protocols. And, I began using the ability without first thinking through these very important concerns about protocol and decorum. I apologize.

For the reasons you've given, I will cease copying anything from one BBoard to another. I'm also concerned about responses not becoming fragmented, especially in these precious remaining days. So I hope I can post this as a separate message.

In the future, whenever I do any 'pointing' to another BBoard/forum item, I'll use only the following "FORM". Please let me know (anyone) if you see any problems with doing it this way:

"Regarding XXXXXXX [the Subject matter, not the thread's actual designated BBoard 'Title'], there is an excellent discussion underway [or article, etc.] over at [with the energyland.net website inserted as link below]:

http://www.energyland.net/index.htm" Paul and Marianne, please accept my personal apologies. This won't happen again.

- Jim Y.

-- Anonymous, December 12, 1999

Answers

Jim,

It'd be nice if you let those on the forum you are making a reference to know that you are doing so. It would let us know there might be some relevant info over "that way". Say for example you put a link on TB2000 to a thread over here. Come over here to the thread and make a post that you've done that. For me it's no big deal. If I have something private to say I send email. But tracking where responses come from, what group is reading, minimizes confusion, increases underestanding.

St

-- Anonymous, December 12, 1999

Steve, Thanks, you're right, of course.

You know, I think I'll just discontinue any "pointing" to any BBoard/forum which displays the respondents' email addresses, such as Rick's BBoard here.

Even if I were to obtain prior approval from a specific respondent to merely "point" to his message...other respondents in the thread, or on the BBoard itself, might have misgivings.

I think I'll just use general paraphrasing such as "a poster on another forum said that xxxxxx" without providing any links or details.

It's just SO important to me to protect other persons' contact info/identities. Thanks again, Steve. -Jim

-- Anonymous, December 12, 1999

Jim,

I was under the impression that you cannot point to this forum since it requires a password to get in. And obviously copying of any messages and then using them elsewhere is a defeat of the security of the forum as well. Just a comment.

-- Anonymous, December 12, 1999

Gordon, I agree completely. Thanks!

-- Anonymous, December 12, 1999

I'm with you, Gordon. The only experience I have had with this, that I am aware of, is a post of mine about "useless words" that was put on Gary North's site and then picked up by another site and made in to a word game. They gave the credit for the words to Gary North. Gee, I was so hurt. Right.

What bothers me is our postings and answers are intertwined to the original question/idea expressed. If some of our writing was exerpted (out of context) I think it could lead to wrong conclusions. So I think anyone can summarize what is read on this site and post that summary where ever, but I think he/she should give a link to this web site so that readers can verify the information. If they are concerned, they will get the password.

-- Anonymous, December 12, 1999

I just want to comment that this is the most civil forum I've been on. (Not that my experience is so vast, but...) Even though there are wide differences of opinion, I've seen little name calling, ranting and other types of behavior that I started assuming was "normal" in discussion groups over the Internet.

Victoria

-- Anonymous, December 13, 1999

Victoria,

You are quite correct that this is a very civil forum. And you can attribute that directly to the way that Rick runs it. When I first started lurking and then posting here I made a few mistakes in both decorum and protocol. Rick very politely emailed me (off forum) and explained "the rules" which at that point I could either accept or reject (and get bounced). I chose to accept the rules, and I respect the solid and fair way that Rick keeps a watch over it all. It shows in the quality of the exchanges, doesn't it?

So, for those who have been lurking with an idea or two, don't hesitate to make a contribution. Rick will not permit any direct personal attack on you, so don't worry about that. And if there is a "borderline" reaction to your post you will probably hear directly from Rick in a personal email or the person who was not too polite will hear from him. Either way, you get to ask questions or express an opinion without being worried about what will come of that.

In a way, Rick is running a training ground here for both relevant information *and* how to get together to discuss it with each other.

-- Anonymous, December 13, 1999