Jocelyn--

I'm sorry to read that you're leaving the forum.  Although I understand and
have felt similarly at different points, I urge you to reconsider.  In the
spirit of an historic speech given just a couple of days ago, I ask you to
maintain an association with a group that has merit despite the wrongheaded
remarks of a vocal inividual. I appeal to you in part out of selfishness: if
sensible people leave, there will be little reason for other sensible ones
to stay and others to join.  

It is, of course, frustrating to have a particularly stubborn member not
learn from repeated calls to show some sensitivity.  I take this opportunity
to point out to David Fears that his activity on the forum is having a
deleterious effect.  I would encourage you, Fears, to grow up (resist your
adolescent inclination to reply with lame wit), apologize for your mistakes,
and be considerate in subsequent posts.  If you cannot do this, then I would
call on the list administrator to do something about it.  If either of these
conditions are not met, the list faces the likelihood of abandonment from
other intelligent, mature voices like Jocelyn Chadwick's. 

--LH

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jocelyn
Chadwick
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 2:03 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Mark Twain quote?

I have been a member of this forum for longer than I can really remember and
have learned from, contributed to, and read with enthusiasm comments from
this group. I am so sorry that today, I will ask to be removed. I am making
this request publicly and with much sorrow in my heart and in my soul. When
I read the quote yesterday, I actually wondered whether anyone othen than
the usuals would respond. 
   
  I thank you all for the wonderful conversations, but I cannot, will not
abide any sort of insensitivity on a forum from which I have always expected
substantive conversation, scholarship, and yes, disputation, but without
wreckless remarks for no apparent reason other than one can.
   
  Mr Fears, you have caused me to do something that I never thought I would
do--leave a forum I have so loved and admired for so long.
   
  Jocelyn A. Chadwick

David H Fears <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
  Isn't it interesting that those who lie here waiting in attack mode for 
terms they *perceive* as pejorative respond by using terms such as "troll"
and 
"fossil" in ways which are undeniably pejorative. Such abuse can only limit 
contributions to this forum. 

David H Fears



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