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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=817370814-03082006><FONT face=Arial size=2>I
agree with many things that David said, but would like to add some more. I
hope that the moderators will allow this topic to continue for a little while
because the topic of "rudeness" has some impacts. I believe that some
people do not report any information about geysers to anyone because of
experiences that they have had. This decreases the information that we have
as a group.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=817370814-03082006><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=817370814-03082006><FONT face=Arial size=2>I
agree that it was very wrong for the letter-writer to single out
an easily identified group for specific criticism. Especially when many
members of that group contribute to our knowledge in many ways. I was
a bit surprised by that part of the letter and that has not been my
experience. Unfortunately, rudeness takes many forms. I have
witnessed rudeness by all "types" of gazers and the recipients were not just
visitors or casual gazers, but sometimes well-known gazers. The mild forms
of rudeness which David mentioned (curtness and unwillingness to
answer questions) would not have prompted me to respond to the original letter
to the GOSA Press. I was mainly thinking of behavior where the term "rude"
is an understatement. There are, unfortunately, some who go out of their
way to behave horribly to others. Introducing oneself and being
polite will not work with those cases. One reason to talk about this is
to acknowledge the situation and encourage people to not behave that way.
For the worst cases this won't work, but it gives others warning that they may
encounter someone like that. If a person wants to merely be left alone,
that is their prerogative and we should try to remember it.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=817370814-03082006><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=817370814-03082006><FONT face=Arial
size=2>It was good to see an explanation of why a person might not want to
answer questions. It is also good to understand someone else's point of
view. Along these lines, I would like to point out
why people might expect others to welcome questions. As David
mentioned, GOSA's purpose is to collect and disseminate information about
geysers, but anyone who is aware of that purpose is probably also aware that
GOSA is a non-profit scientific and educational corporation. A reasonable
person seeing that GOSA is a educational corporation may expect those who are
associated with GOSA to act like educators. They will also probably treat
those associated with GOSA as educators. This means they will ask a
lot of questions (many of which they should know the answers to), they will
ask the same questions repeatedly (having either not listened to or
forgotten the answers) and most of them will not thank you.
After all this, they will assume that you got a lot of personal fulfillment
from sharing your information (or as David put it: being an "information
dispenser"). </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=817370814-03082006><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Of course, being associated with GOSA does not obligate anyone to be
an educator, but no one should be surprised when others make that
assumption. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=817370814-03082006><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=817370814-03082006><FONT face=Arial
size=2>What can be done about this? I think David has it right when he
says that we should discuss GOSA's purpose every so often. We should add
in reminders that not everyone is an educator, nor wants to be treated like one,
and pleas for people to avoid unnecessary rudeness. This discussion should
never be cast as telling people what to do, but just pointing out some things
that people might want to remember.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=817370814-03082006><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=817370814-03082006><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Will this keep people from annoying others with questions or behaving
rudely? No, not completely, but maybe it will decrease the annoyances
and rudeness and at least give those of good will a fair warning that not
everyone welcomes their questions.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=817370814-03082006><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=817370814-03082006><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Vicki Whitledge</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=817370814-03082006><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=817370814-03082006><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=817370814-03082006><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=817370814-03082006><FONT face=Arial
size=2>David Schwarz wrote:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT><BR> Just a couple of other points on this
subject.<BR><BR> First: The letter in question was addressed to the
GOSA press and membership. As such, it is clearly intended for
publication. While it doesn't explicitly name names, it might as well,
since it indicts an easily identifiable group of people, many of whom are among
the most dedicated and productive in terms of the collection of information
about the geysers. If you're going to do that, then have the courage and
decency to sign your name. It adds credibility and context to your
complaint, and it places you on even footing with those who you have, for all
intents and purposes, named. Not to do so is, well, rude.
<BR><BR> Most respectable newspapers and journals won't withhold
names or publish anonymous pieces unless there is a compelling reason, such as a
credible threat to life and limb. I'd encourage the GOSA press to adhere
to such a policy. <BR><BR> Second: The letter writer has implicitly
brought up the question of GOSA's purpose. <BR>This is a topic that should
probably come up every so often anyway. The stated purpose of GOSA (the
store, press, board of directors, and other official entities) is something
along the lines of "The collection and dissemination of information about
geysers." Not to act as a social network. Not to answer every
question of every visitor or fellow gazer who walks by all summer. Not to
act as ambassadors for the park or Park Service. Anyone who wishes to
interact with other visitors and other gazers is free to do so. Anyone who
prefers not to has a right to make that choice without being anonymously
attacked in a public forum. As the writer accurately observed, we are all
nothing more than perennial visitors. <BR><BR> As a long-time GOSA
associate, the letter writer must surely be aware that some of the people
they're complaining about are sending regular reports to the listserv and The
Sput, entering a detailed record into the Old Faithful logbook, and writing
research articles for The GOSA Transactions. Though their efforts are
apparently largely unappreciated _they_ are collecting information about geysers
and making it available now and for the historic record, and I guarantee that
they have benefited countless visitors, including many of you reading this
forum. Can our anonymous letter writer say as much? <BR><BR>David
Schwarz<BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>