I remember feeling that way when I first came on the forum, too.  I actually
got into a dialogue with a person who seemed to write on and on about her
thoughts and opinions with words the size of the planet (I think just to
hear herself talk.)  Anyhow, I no longer feel that way thanks to people like
Kevin B. and others.  I don't contribute much because I am far from a Mark
Twain Scholar even though I live in Elmira where he wrote a lot of his best
works, but I sure do enjoy the information and the discussions.  I have a
special file that I save a lot of this information in.

Hope even the new people will not feel as I did at first.

Sue Harris
[log in to unmask]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Wesley Britton" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2001 2:05 PM
Subject: newer Forum members


> Judging from postings to me privately and on this Forum, I see a need to
> address a more important matter than a long out-dated controversy.
>
> Several folks stated they now feel reluctant to post questions or make
> comments in the light of the heavy-duty "war horses" responses to queries.
> I deeply hope this doesn't happen.  This issue has arisen before with some
> old
> types complaining about high school students asking for term paper help to
> those who want no discussions at all and simply want to read scholarly
> information.  From time to time, lively discussions do erupt over any
number
> of matters, and no one should feel they are not welcome to pose questions
or
> contribute to the debate.  Sure, some questions may have been asked
before,
> and repeatedly, and sometimes referring such questions to our Forum
archives
> is a good response.  But I hope no non-academic or newbie to the
profession
> will ever pull back from honest questions or responses to them. Asking
what
> definitive books are out there was a perfectly valid question and resulted
> in the most engaging discussion we've had in ages.  Thanks for asking.
>
> And I thank those who observed that the central point John and I were
trying
> to make is that we were telling a general reader why we're cautious in the
> books to recommend.  Controversy will occur time and time again and
there's
> nothing wrong with that.  We are, after all, the champions of HUCKLEBERRY
> FINN.
>