Diana: I think the problem is the same one I got tangled in: I didn't pay
attention to the headers other than the subect line.....then suddenly I
noticed that my posts had picked up ALL the newsgroups that were in the
posts I had replied to!

I was thinking "What do law enforcement and true crime have to do with MY
pet cats posts??  I bet that nimue has not noticed that these are in her/his
newsgroups header, just like I did not.

What, exactly, is the advantage  of posting topics that are way way off to a
bunch of groups?  I am fairly new at this........the newsgroups I was
frequenting were less discussions than art-related.

Your note indicates that trolls tend to be more frequent than not.  That is
rather disheartening.  I will have to learn to not jump in just because I am
angered by someone who really needs to get out more and get a constructive,
real life.

The two abuse topics on this group went so far out that it wasn't even about
the cats anymore, expecially that poor burnt kitty.  It was beyond
ridiculous.  I, unfortunately, let myself get drawn into it before I
realized "hey, trolls, Mel! What have troops in Iraq got to do with
alt.pets.cats and discussing a single incident."

One lunatic said that I should have to discuss the inhumanity toward all
men, all situations (non verbatim) before discussing this cat.  (THAT would
be one lonnnng post!) He also accused me of being a traitor and supporting
the innocent-killing troops in Iraq.  Thats funny.  As a vegetarian,
non-violent, non-war-supporting human being I can't imagine where he got
such an insane idea.

Last I checked, Canada was a free country, and when one is discussing one
topic, you don't need to bring the whole encyclopaedia down to divide out a
small section.

I certainly have learned a few things, though.  One of them is definitely
NOT to react.  I used to think that most people were basically pretty good.
Troll?  Nah, people wouldn't be THAT nasty, would they?  Ha ha.  I'm not
naive, but some people really need to get a life.

I just checked back for some valid topics, but unfortunately I can't help
the lady about the harness.

I think it's time for a break, too.  :)

Melody