Snooty Virologists (with smileys)

[Karl Fischer]

In article <3pb3g1$nd3 at dns.crocker.com>, jwr at crocker.com wrote:

> Snooty Virologists!

Oooo...somebody is a little bent outta shape :-0

>To all of you professionsal virilogists-my apologies for being interested
in what is happening in Zaire! 

Glad you're interested...BUT instead of yourself and others bashing the
living bejesus outta b.v. with what amounts to Ebola hype/mania/hysteria
postings, why not read the FAQ for the newsgroup and lurk for a while. If
your particular question hasn't been asked a zillion times then it might
be appropriate to post
(having taken a look already at a recent virology text or two - and
mentioning same in the posting - would only warm the cockles of hearts
even further) ;-)

>I would think you folks would find it encouraging that people out here in
cyberspace do take an interest in such things 

Interest is one thing; verbally bashing us because we take exception to
what amounts to a flood of "What I read in US Today"/"Me too" posts is
another. Please...PLEASE read the mandate/FAQ of the b.v. newsgroup...it
will help you to understand our displeasure with the posting tirade. 

>I will agree that much of what's being posted is a waste of time reading

...and painful (Jabbing one's leg with a fork because you've just read
your 212th "Duh" posting about Ebola) :-[

-but it shows there is interest and that interest will be the beginning of
something good! 

WHAT GOOD?..Professionals/researchers who were using b.v. since it was
started are getting infuriated with the groundswell of garbage postings
and are a) thinking of unsubscribing (so much for the 'brain trust' if
this happens wide scale), b) contemplating the option of having this group
moderated (so much for open discussion) or c) taking out their displeasure
by trying to make lucid postings like this one....I hope ;-)

> Be patient and understanding of us "simple folk". Keep up your good work
and especially your informative additions to this page.

Interesting strategy....start with the stick then use the carrot.;-)

Bottom line...We'll be patient when you get "smart"; read a virology
textbook, read the FAQ for b.v. and lurk in b.v. for a while. 

If you come into our virtual round table with guns ablazin', we're apt to
shoot right back.

Karl

-- 
Karl Fischer
kfischer at gpu.srv.ualberta.ca
tyr-2 at bones.biochem.ualberta.ca