I so would like Hal Bush's posting be the last word on this whole 
thing, but I feel the need to reveal one more incident in this whole 
talk of leaving the Forum.  Do you all remember "Camy?"  She is the 
blind woman whose passionate interest in Twain, and her questions, 
spurred some great discussion from many of you. She has a degree in 
literature, but she posed many questions because she cannot use search 
tools as easily as most of us, and she is hugely captivated by Mark 
Twain.  Well, Camy left the forum because of negativity shown to her, 
particularly by one person on the list who privately said she shouldn't 
be asking so many questions since this is for collegiate folk. (Most of 
you would agree this individual is not even in that category.)  When 
considering Hal's 4 cautions, might you all also consider the point of 
this forum.  Besides being a practical tool for researchers etc., can 
it not also be to further stimulate interest in Twain by answering 
questions from folk like Camy, the same way you all eagerly do 
following one of your public lectures,  and thereby not give the 
impression of an Ivory, Ivy Tower Forum?  And why shouldn't ordinary, 
decent civility be an ongoing part of any discourse on the internet as 
in public?  And that should include patiently dealing with questions 
you've heard before, and not treating such people as interlopers in a 
private club.  Let's follow Hal's advice.  The best invention in the 
world is the delete button.  But stay nice.
-- Ron, in Elmira