Absolutely, Steve--no one reading the careful message with which you
initiated this thread could mistake it for intentional provocation of a
blatherthon (a most apt word).

As you noted, one of the (several) regrettable aspects of the (semiannual?)
blatherthons is that they inhibit legitimate discussion of related topics:
list members may well refrain from launching any thread that could possibly
trigger a blatherthon.  

It's a great pity that anyone should feel obliged to engage in that sort of
defensive self-censorship.  Community opprobrium, backed by brisk exercise
of the delete key, seems a better approach, and I am glad to see it already
underway in this instance. 

A suggested self-catechism for the impulsive: "Have I sent an identical
message (if not perhaps in exactly identical words) within the past year?" 
If the answer is yes, kindly refrain from a reprise.  

For many, Lent starts tomorrow, so perhaps one may hope for a new season of
restraint hereabouts as well.

--Jurretta Heckscher

On Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:49:34 -0500, S. Corneliussen
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>> Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] TJF re-asserting statistical
>> science? & Falsely charging TJ with "bedding...
>
>> Grease up your delete keys folks. It's gonna be same-o, same-o.
>
>> the 8 or 9 month long Thomas Jefferson/Sally Hemings blatherthon.
>
>Please note for the record that with the queries that I included in it, the
>thread that I started -- "TJF re-asserting statistical science?" -- was
>legitimate fare for this forum. Others laced around that thread the same-o,
>same-o. I agree about the blatherthon and don't want to be linked to it. I
>apologize that my topic was likely to tempt the misbehavers, but I hope all
>agree that the likelihood of their misbehavior does not justify silence
>about legitimate fare. Thanks.
>Steve Corneliussen
>

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