Can't we all just get along?

[NeilNFW <NeilNFW...>]

My musical kin,

This debate that many of us have been involved with has become most
interesting.  I am going to propose a solution which hopefully many of us can
live with.

This mail list seems like a "selective bulletin board" which spans the net
and is less public (and less annoying) than alt.music.com.  If I put up a
notice on a Hillel bulletin board which say "LOST A BLACK CAT, IF YOU CAN
HELP, CALL 555-5555," I would not expect everyone who passes that notice to
call me.

Further, I liken private e-mail to a phone call and answering machine.  To
butcher the cat example, anyone who had information on my little black cat
and wanted to help could leave a message on my answering machine.

If one posts a message asking for help on songs (i.e. chords, words, capo
settings, etc.) and asks for a private e-mail response, not everyone is
required to reply.  Even if you have the information and don't feel right
about replying, don't.  If a colleague called you on the telephone and asked
you for help with some words or a guitar chord, or a transalation (what does Z
um Gali Gali mean, anyway?), would you answer?  If not, don't.  But if you
choose not to get involved, stay out of the e-mail boxes of those of us who
need help.  None of us are perfect; we are all trying to become better
educators.  It's only the technology that has sparked this debate.

Feel free to post comments regarding this (and I know you will).\

Neil Weinstein
Bellevue, WA
NeilNFW (at) aol(dot)com