Continued purrs for John to be well.

Hugs,

CatNipped

Some newsgroups do manage to achieve the dynamics of "Virtual
Communities", as defined in Howard Rheingold's book of the same name.  
One of the interesting aspects of a virtual community is how it resolves
conflict.

While I have been a reader of the Callahan books, I never really got
involved with the newsgroup. My understanding is that anyone with a
serious concern resolves it through the newsgroup's interpretation of
the Callahan's books' tradition of ritualized toasts and smashing
virtual glasses.

Here, responding to flames with recipes is what I modestly might suggest
is an affirmation of values, far more powerful than the announcement of
killfiling. I've responded to certain touchy situations with what I also
hope is constructive: calm and factual data that bears on the subject.

Over on alt.fan.heinlein, where there is something of a tradition of a
virtual bar and lanai, one of the peacemaking traditions is for the
Barwenches (a term of honor) to throw flamers into the swimming pool.
Alt.fan.heinlein is the social newsgroup that seems to best manage the
occasional testosterone storm with a tradition of informal, and even
informal, courtesy. It is thoroughly gender-mixed, and one gender
attacking or acting superior to the other is grounds for ostracism.
Several of us have decided to try the RPCA recipe approach as well -- we
have some fine cooks.

In yet other USENET virtual communities, conflict resolution often comes
down to attrition of the flamers with fact, and judicious use of
killfiles.

In professional mailing lists that I frequent, off-topic violations
beside occasional topical humor draw shocked peer pressure. There is a
strong desire to keep things on topic, although, especially in the
professional medical groups dealing with such things as trauma surgery,
humor is sometimes important in dealing with the misery -- surgeons and
paramedics aren't always detached.

My purrs and good vibes from my bit of the world that all is well in the
innards department :-)

gentle *hugs* helen s

Continuing purrs for John.

Purrs continuing until he's past this. Sending our best for great
results!!

Continued purrs for John's improvement, and for your worrying.
Sam, closely supervised by Mistletoe

Will  certainly purr for good results for John>    MLB

---------------------<snip>----------------------

Purrs that it is nothing serious.

Regards and Purrs,
O J

A friend of my mum's just had that and everything turned out fine. Wishing
and purring for the same for John and hugs for you, Bev,