Howdy all
In response to a some recent emails, and forum posts, I think its time for me to ‘sticky’ a set of forum guidelines. I’m hesitant to use the word “rules”, because that implies heavy-handedness, which I won’t do. Consider them a request from a friend.

Since LSC’s inception almost five years ago, I’ve considered chat and the forums as a “virtual living room” or, more accurately, a “Publick House”, with me being the bartender, with an absentee owner. Imagine you’ve come in, sat down at the bar, and started talking about trains. People may or may not join your conversation, as they see fit. If you start being obnoxious, some people may join, but you’ll get lots of stares from other people in the pub. I may even ask you to keep it down, but I rarely kick anyone out. I won’t erase anyone’s memories about a conversation (delete posts). That’s not how I operate.

Those of you who have been coming in for a while, even if you haven’t joined in any of the conversations (lurkers), you know that we have an eclectic set of regulars. You may or may not agree with everything that guy in the corner booth says, but you can safely ignore him. You know that fights don’t break out here, either. Its a sometimes-not-too-quiet place to come and visit and have a drink. Some of the regulars have passed on, as witnessed by the plaque on the wall, and every once in a while we raise a glass to them.

-=Bob