[at-l] I'm out of here

[syn1@mindspring.com (montegoblue)]

I had hoped that I was mistaken, I still hope that I am, but what I have
seen today doesn't leave me with a lot of hope.

I have been told that this list doesn't support censorship like some
people (I maintain incorrectly) believe Wingfoot did, but while I have
seen several posts lambasting WF with little or no response, my post in
support of WF, and yes against the attitudes some hold toward him, was
met with much heated discussion in which I was told that I should keep
my mouth shut on this issue. This didn't give me a warm, fuzzy, 1st
amendment glow guys.

I see that many believe that there is a strong, supportive AT community,
yet what I saw today leads me to believe that it doesn't support one of
its hardest workers and staunchest supporters. Many seemed saddened that
the great resource that Trailplace was will not be available any more,
any Joni Mitchell fans here? "You don't know what you got till it's
gone" It seems that most didn't just use Trailplace, they used it up
without giving anything back, and while at the same time bashing its
creator, please, I beg of you, don't treat the Appalachian Trail itself
in the same way.

I worry about that last point because I have been told that no one,
with a couple of exceptions, cares about trail conservation or
protection. If this is the AT community count me out. You can call me
stupid (I have the feeling that is the nicest thing some of you will
say about me) but I even give to my local NPR station and PBS channel,
yeah, I could watch and listen for free at least until these services
were shut down from a lack of funds. I won't take this chance with PBS
and I won't take it with the AT, sad to hear that at least one person
thinks this is the way most of the members of AT-L feel. I am pretty
sure this person doesn't speak for everyone on the list, but I am
alarmed that you are willing to let him.

So what is the reason for all of this blinding hatered? Yes I understand
how egos could have been bruised by WF, mine was, I would guess that
Weary's was as well, but does this excuse the things I have seen WF
called today? By the way Kelly, communism, as espoused by its originator
Karl Marx was completely egalitarian, no single individual has control
over another individual in a communist society. The USSR, East Germany,
China, these were or are socialist societies, not communist. Try fascist
next time you want to insult some one, I think it even sounds more
insulting.

As for all of the problems that you seem to think existed on ATML, well
guess what guys, I can't remember the last flame war on ATML, I have
seen a few posts on AT-L today that seem to say they are relatively
common here. What I can remember is a lot of people sharing a lot of
good information, having disagreements, but working through them calmly
and constructively. It wasn't always like that, but that's what it had
evolved into, and no one, I mean no one, and not because WF held guns to
our heads, ever said anything negative about any of you. It just didn't
occur to us that we should be saying negative things about anyone.

So consider this my resignation, please, no applause. Like I said I
joined AT-L to get my AT fix, and outside of the name I can't see much
that this list shares with the AT.

E. George Oeser

Ps. I do want to say that it was good to hear from some of you, Felix,
    RnR, Weary, hope all is well with you.



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