Dear Gary, Of course there is no 'manual or document where the parameters and nature of this discussion group are set forth'. It just strikes me as common courtesy to stick to the matter in hand. As I said in my original message, do you want to hear me nattering on about Liverpool or Arsenal footballs clubs? I rather suspect not.
Allow me to make a point that occurred to me with regard to this discussion. Heydrich, the Nazi governor of 'Bohemia' was by all accounts a good violinist, who played the Bach solo violin repertoire. Had he taken part in such a forum as this for violins under a pseudonym, we would not have known who he was, and as long as he kept to the subject in hand, he would have been one of 'us'. Indeed, I have no idea whether or how many participants here have political ideas (or are anti-Liverpool/Arsenal) which I would find repulsive. Nor do I much care. That is not the point of this list, a fact surely too obvious to need pointing out, let alone requiring a manual or document. I am glad to read what people have to say about the lute and its music. I am old enough, well-read enough and have enough moral sense to form my own opinions on politics and the like. I most certainly don't wish to have them preached at me by people I don't otherwise know and whose motives are none of my business, as my private thoughts are none of theirs. If I so wished, and was indeed foolish enough, there is plenty I could say about participants here from this or that country the behaviour of which has had a profound effect on my life and that of my family. But (a) guilt by association is as low as one can get (b) if I sign up here, I knowingly join a community dealing with a specialist subject and nothing else (c) insinuating that people from particular countries are, simply by virtue of the fact they come from said countries, not fit company for other members is insulting in the extreme. I could, if daft enough, as I said, play that game ad nauseam, but to descend to such levels ought to be beneath the dignity of those taking part in the discussions here. Kindest regards Tom --
