Fernando et al, When I joined this list I did so because I was interested in sundials, even though I didn't know that much about them. I have learnt a lot from other members of the list (not better, just more knowledgable on this subject), and have also derived a great deal of pleasure in replying to such queries as I was capable of answering.
Signing up to the list is a two edged sword. You have the benefit of learning from other people, but to my mind you also have the responsibility to help others where you can. Everyone knows nothing when they first start, and if someone were to ask whether the sun rose in the east or the west then I should do my best to answer them in as helpful a way as possible. We should feel privileged that we have reached a position in which we are capable of helping others as they start out learning about a new subject. The fact that many members of the list do not use English as their first language should not be a cause of embarassment to them, nor should it be used by others to belittle them. I am impressed that they make the effort to contribute to the list and am grateful that they do so. They have as much to say as anyone else and even though we English speakers may have to work a bit harder to divine the meaning on occasion, it is usually well worth the effort. Certainly if they chose to post in their native tongues, I should stand little chance of following what was being said, and should be the poorer for it. Finally, I find it almost unbelievable that in a list that, given the complex nature of the content, should be made up of reasonably intelligent people, such rudeness has been exhibited. For a member of the list to write as though he spoke for the whole list is bad enough, but when they then try to tell other members that their contributions are not valued, this is outrageous. If an invitation only list does exist, especially if it is populated by these sorts of people, I suggest that if they feel themselves to be above our list then they should stick exclusively to their own. David Higgon London
