From: "Ted White" <twhite8 at cox.net>
To: "WSFA members" <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Goodbye?
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 18:28:53 -0400
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

----- Original Message -----
From: <chuck.divine at att.net>
To: <WSFAList at wsfa.org>
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2004 1:02 PM
Subject: [WSFA] Goodbye?

> 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
>