On Oct 6, 1:26 pm, Emery Davis > wrote:
> On Sat, 06 Oct 2007 10:26:59 -0700
>
> Ken Blake > wrote:
> > Please excuse the OT posting, but I haven't seen anything from Ian
> > here for many months. Is anyone in touch with him? I hope he's all
> > right?
>
> Hi Ken,
>
> Ian's fine. I've been recently corresponded.
>
> Sadly he has stopped posting on AFW, citing a general drop in
> courtesy levels, but also a lack of relevance to the drinking habits
> of those of us in France. I sometimes share this view.


When I first started reading this group, Ian Hoare posted as much as
about anyone. I am glad to hear that he is well. I was beginning to
think that he was no longer with us or had moved to a very remote area
without good internet access.

As for courtesy levels, this seems to vary a lot. We have had trolls
who really stirred things up, but I could name many other Usenet
groups that have had worse problems. Lack of courtesy on the part of
some is just part of something as open as Usenet. People who have been
rude to me, mostly in other groups, have for the most part been trolls
who are rude to nearly everyone or people who are angry about
something else. They perhaps have a boss who annoys them. They can not
kick the dog, because that gets them arrested. They can not kick the
spouse, because that gets them arrested as well as court actions by
divorce lawyers who make them wish they never had been born. They can
go to Usenet and take out their ire on someone at random who they
likely do not know, and usually they can get away with it. I usually
do not get upset by a tirade by someone I do not know.There seems to
also be Usenet burnout. Many just seem to get tired of posting after a
time.

In addition to Ian, I do not recall seeing a post from Tom S ( of Ch.
Burbank fame) here in a long time. At one time he posted nearly every
day. I hope he is well and perhaps just had Usenet burnout.