The other day I got a note from someone who was doing a reasearch paper.  I
don't have the original note but it started with something like "Can you tell
me all the influences that had and effect on Twain's writings" and ended with
something like: "hurry up and reply fast my paper is due soon."  I replied
with what I thought was courtesy, and said that I did not have the time to
write a research paper nor did the members of the forum generally appreciate
notes demanding information for a paper where the research could be started
with the reading of sections of Twain's biography, Life on the Mississippi,
etc.

The next day I was treated to a note with all sorts of insults in it
concerning my snobbery, attitude, and several sentences about what I should
be sitting on while I was doing all sorts of things.

Rather than dismiss the girl, I replied that perhaps I had misread her note.
 Once again she demanded information and suggested I be more careful in my
reading.

This brings up the point Taylor mentioned about the forum.  I'm glad I
received the note rather than the forum members.  I do not think that sort of
note belongs on the forum.  But given that we may all be treated to these
types of requests, do we have or do you think we ought to have some canned
papers, articles, etc. on Twain that we could send out as a blanket response
to these questions?  It might be some work but if we could all
come up with a rather agreed to list, we could be saved from young coeds who
post such demands.   Such a set of papers might serve as the basis of a book
as well.

Let me know what you think please.

Jerry O'Brien