Hi all-- I belong to another forum of specialists in the reproduction of color photographs that, believe it or not, makes this one look like a polite discussion between 18th century ladies taking tea. In that forum, we have had so many acrimonous discussions running on and on for thread after thread that the forum is now moderated by several people, who alternate to bounce outrageous ad hominem attacks. Perhaps we could do the same for this discussion group. I would be happy to volunteer my services, although I can barely write HTML and have only an undergratuate's experience in Bob Hirst's Mark Twain course. Thanks, Gerald Stone Editor Regional Oral History Office The Bancroft Library University of California, Berkeley I won't ask Arianne whom she regards as a "misguided leader," but I'll > remind her and other members of the Mark Twain Forum what a fragile > institution the Forum is. It receives no institutional or financial > support > of any kind and is kept alive primarily by the unremunerated labors of the > list administrator, who is constantly harassed by disgruntled members and > people whose crackpot postings never make it to members' eyes. It may not > be > an exaggeration to say that the Forum is on the verge of collapse. > > So, I ask ... what's more important to you--keeping the Forum alive or > allowing a disruptive member to continue driving away fellow members, > while > wearing out the one person who keeps the Forum alive? > > If anyone out there who is anxious to invite Mr. Fears back is also > willing > to take responsibility for administering the Forum, I suggest that you > step > forward now. > > Kent Rasmussen >