Vic, This list is a special place. The level of civility is high for an internet group as is the desire to be genuinely helpful. The emotional intelligence is generally higher and more mature than in other groups - fewer 13 year old egos here. There are many participants who have read each other's posts for a long time and have been helped by them.
I've subscribed to this list thru many years and personal difficulties, my father's illness and death from colon cancer and my sons' testicular cancers. The list and photography were a comfort during these times. A way to escape my troubles. Make no mistake, we are pals based on our internet correspondence. Until last year's Grandfather Mountain, I had only met one member of the list who was visiting my city. So we all share an interest in Pentax cameras and photography, have learned to treat each other with respect (for the most part), and know a little bit about one another and our lives. We see the participants as other human beings and friends. Stick around for a while, the feeling will grow on you. Regards, Bob S. On 7/13/06, Vic Mortelmans <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi, > > Often I've been surprised how strong human feelings can be expressed in > this group. People who have experienced something in their personal > live, illness or happiness, death or new live, write a small message > (off-topic, definitely!) and numbers of other PDML'ers respond with > expressions of sympathy and understanding. A very heart-warming > experience. But each time, it surprises me. I don't know nationality of > each of you or how well you know each other, because I'm quite new and > restrict (and interest) myself only to the technical issues of (Pentax) > photography. This kind of expressions is what I would only expect among > a group of very close friends. Maybe it's something American? Maybe it's > something non-European? Maybe it's something not-me? I guess this is > part of the PDML-culture. > > If war is at hand, the basic human reaction is to enforce hope that > anyone involved would be safeguarded from the fearful consequences of > these events, and these feelings are expressed on the forum as well. > > I don't know Peter or Boris or other list members personally, so I won't > stand up for any of them, but I'm quite sure that starting off this kind > of 'human factor' discussions about events that are not purely > individual, but that clearly have a political or cultural aspect, is > bound to offend someone. And the effect can only be adversely to the > purpose of this group. > > Groeten, > > Vic > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > No, blame Boris for screwing up the list. This type of thread only > > incites people to respond who do not agree with the politics one way or > > another. The timing of this is part of the politics. Why did Boris > > not create an OT thread when Israel invaded Gaza? If politicians in > > the US had the guts to stand up to pro-Israel political coalition, and > > put pressure on Israel to make real peace with the Palestinians, not > > only would there likely not be any war right now, but much of the > > animosity the Muslim world has against the western world would be > > diffused. > > > > > > > >>Oh, look, we can take him and his disposable e-mail address seriously > >>now that he's made up a name for us! > > > > > >>"Peter", rest assured that if you have a camera question that none of > >>us will help you with it. Thanks for trying to screw up our list. > > > > > >>-Aaron > > > > > > -- Peter Grove > > Seattle WA > > > > ________________________________________________________________________ > > Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and > > industry-leading spam and email virus protection. > > > > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
