Completely different topics in completely different realms.  Each attracts
their own set of people, not to say that the group of people who Geocache
are bad people by any stretch of the imagination.  Different personality
types are drawn to various activies, and it just so happens that there are a
number of people within the AZ community that will simply tell it like it
is.  Others may not like that, but that's simply their own problem.  Yes,
there are moire 'hot button' topics here than say which material works
better for an interior door panel.  Issues that have gone public here have
the tendency to affect other cachers, inciting a more personal reaction.

I've come down hard on people before, and I would even go so far as to say
that some things could have been handled more appropriately in private.  But
what's done is done, and I can say now that I most likely wouldn't go back
and change how I've handled issues in the past.  Perhaps in the future, if
warranted, I'll reconsider based on incidents in the past.

One thing is certain though.  Largely the AZGC.com community isn't hostile
in nature, as it appears is being implied.  What you call flaming/e-mail
wars may be someone else's interpretation of a strong debate.  Differences
of opinion will never cease to exist, and some are more vocal than others in
expressing said opinions.  The sport of Geocaching is ever evolving, and is
constantly experiencing growing pains throughout.  That alone makes the
comparison to your other mailing list negligible.  They aren't even in the
same ballpark.  Now, if were say, a rugby mailing list, I can say with
confidence that differences of opinion and flaming would make this group
look like a bunch of sleeping newborns in a hospital nursery.

Brian
Team A.I.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill" <bill@freeholder.com>
To: <listserv@azgeocaching.com>
Sent: Monday, May 31, 2004 8:19 PM
Subject: [Az-Geocaching] RE: Explanation and apology


> I'm have been watching this episode as an outside observer, since I don't
> know any of the people involved, and I wasn't one of the ones called for
the
> "business" deal.  As an uninvolved person, I feel compelled to make an
> observation about this list.
>
> This group can be very hostile in general, and this incident, which would
> have gone virtually unnoticed on the other lists I subscribe to, is a
> perfect example.  I am a member of a VW Vanagon mailing list with 1600
> members, and this list, with far fewer members, still seems to generate
more
> flames and email wars in a month than the Vanagon list does in a year.
>
> Certainly there is a high level of "cliqueishness" to be found here, but
> that doesn't begin to explain the level of hate I see transmitted back and
> forth.  What is up with you guys?
>
> Bill in Willcox  (and glad to be out of the line of fire)
>
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