Hi all. As a political science teacher, I'm now about to do what I sometimes criticize in class: straddle the ole fence, ride down the center of the street, equivocate, talk out of both sides of my mouth, etc.
On the one hand... I have enjoyed the one-two punch of Brian and Jim. They both love bikes; there is no love lost between them; and they both feel passionately about their views. Before I view any emails on the list, I look at the email addresses of what is in my mailbox, and whenever one of them has something to say I stamp it as numero ono priority. Right up there with my own work -- ok, often ahead of my own work. Moreover, I think that the only way we can get their perspectives about that era is to let them a bit of brawling. It's too bad that they don't like each other, but that's just the way it is, and I am willing to put up without the love and kisses in order to hear what they have to say.
On the other hand ... Once you give leeway to two people, you have to ask yourself as the listmeister how you treat others on the list. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and if some of the big names are doing it, others might be tempted to wade in. Without in anyway excusing ole Ken Denny -- hi Ken -- I should note that some of his big time flames before his latest flameout occured after things got stirred up about Masi. And without being too demeaning to the ibob list, of which I'm a member, I can also say that the flame wars there start very quickly and can be harder to put out than a forest fire in California.
Dale is walking a thin line between the gathering of information and the dissemination of opinions couched in such a way as to be hurtful. I miss Brian's and Jim's contributions. I would also be sad if the list turned into a free-for-all.
jon
jon cowden
ithaca, ny