A forum is a virtual spot owned by the participants for their enjoyment. If you don't believe that - make the members angry and the forum ceases to exist because it has no traffic. When the participants can discuss ideas with mutual respect for each other and learn new ideas from other experienced people in a constructive manner, the members are happy and the forum works. A forum with members who insist that they are always right and everyone else is wrong, is not a place of debate nor of idea sharing.

Two big events happened recently - I walked in an REI and I turned 65. As I turn 65 I am so strongly aware of the many "correct" paths that can be taken through the same woods to arrive at the same destination. I love to examine those ideas that I disagree with to see why someone thinks they have value (perhaps they might have value for me). As for REI, there as so many new gadgets and shiny bits of camping gear that the immortal question "which is the best" has no meaning anymore. The best is the one that you like OK? It happens that most of my gear is 20 years old and is totally functional to me for what I do. Don't put me down because my gear is old, I had a 18 pound baseweight before most of you were born.

So anyway I am going to insist on some changes to the interactions of the forum members based on pms sent to me by members. There will be no posts allowed that are specifically written to "argue" with another member. This is not to mean that discussions of quoted material and ideas will not be allowed for the purpose of disscussion, but the comments must be contructive and allow for differences of opinion and not judge the messenger of the idea.

My mother-in-law knows there are two ways of doing everything, her way and the wrong way. I do not want to try to share ideas with her, or even speak to her. Forums are for open minded people who want to share ideas about new approaches to doing something fun, not listen to endless debate about it.

OBSERVE THE POWER OF THE DELETE KEY. SOMETIMES YOU JUST WRITE IT DOWN LIKE IT IS, ALL OFFENSIVE AND EVERYTHING, THEN SMILE AND PRESS DELETE. It is wrong to use the forum for negative personal interaction

The SHOUT box is for the general personal interaction, lets keep the threads clear of a lot of personal stuff so more people can share, and while its not a rule, do not attempt to dominate a thread, instead give more people a chance to respond before posting again. Like maybe wait for 4 posts before answering any and unless its an unusual case, do not post more than 4 times to any thread, so as to allow for more peoples ideas to be written first.

Thanks for your time and heres a toast to new year and fun at the camping spot. See more of me in "almost over the hill"
Jim