From: chuck.divine at att.net
To: WSFAList at wsfa.org
Subject: [WSFA] Goodbye?
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 17:02:45 +0000
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

I really don't need this.

OK, especially Ted and Keith, try looking at this whole exchange from my perspective.

I'm a friendly guy.  I issue a friendly invitation.  I acknowledge the conflict with Capclave.  There's nothing I can do about the conflict.

What do I get?  A reply from Keith I can only describe as insulting and consdescending.  Ditto from Ted.

Keith, you have rubbed me the wrong way too often in the past.  The first time I can remember you for anything was a rant you posted to an e-mail list for those of us going to the 1995 Worldcon.  I said at the time you were wrong.  Condemning British fans for suggesting we meet in bars for social events was ugly Americanism at its worst.

Keith, you've told many people how to get to my house via walking?  Just how out of touch with reality are you?  I run six miles a day and I wouldn't tell someone to walk from the New Carrollton Metro to my house.  Keith, rail against contemporary society all you want -- but don't give lousy advice based upon your uncommon prejudices.

So, Ted, you're a pro and a big name fan.  You once edited Amazing.  Yes, I've heard of it.  I might have even read an issue or two.  The world of SF is huge.  SF is hardly a central thing in my life.  I think SF is important and interesting -- but it's not, by a long shot, as important and interesting as some people involved with it think it is.

Ted, let me give you a piece of e-mail etiquette.  It's considered improper to post to a general e-mail list a personal message.  I was angry -- understandably so, I think -- with your and Keith's evident hostility.  I sent the message directly to you.  If I had wanted to broadcast the message to the list, I would have done so.  You were totally out of line with that posting.

I am generally warm and friendly -- most people know that.  My personality is also highly democratic.  Most people know that.  I also have a temper.  One way to make me angry is to put me down in such an unwarranted fashion as the two of you have done.  What, precisely, was my crime?  Suggesting an event that competed with Capclave?  Hell, if I had been able to come to Capclave (the event was in third place for the weekend), I'd of skipped out for some hours to go running with friends.  I do things like that routinely at SF conventions.  Doesn't anyone else?

I've been reducing my involvement in SF fandom for at least a decade.  There are wonderful people in the community.  There are also more than enough annoying people -- and too much stuff that really isn't all that interesting.

Perhaps I'll show up again at something.  But, remember, I've got lots of real friends in groups I value more than WSFA.

Oh -- I don't know if it will make any difference, but I'm using my webmail account to post this message.  My regular mailer (Kmail -- it comes with Suse Linux 9.1) hasn't been called weird before.

Chuck Divine