One thing I frequently hear on the bird walks I lead are newbies who don't or won't post due a bad experience on the list. There is a small group of people (with no official affiliation to the list) who either enjoy playing Stomp the Newbie or feel it their role to criticize the subject, format, or grammar of the email via back channel. The more experienced birders suggest the newbies ignore the critics and enjoy the hobby and share what they see or know but the damage is already done. 

If we want better discussion, we need to be more open, not bash people. 

BTW - just had Tree Swallows over my office in Olmsted Township. 

Erik Bruder
Bay Village

> On Mar 16, 2016, at 9:32 AM, Bill Whan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> Subject: Evolution of this list
> Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 14:31:29 -0400
> From: Bill Whan <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> 
> Without commenting much about them, I attach an old slice of posts to
> this list from about 15 years ago. I would be interested to hear what
> readers--folks who wrote and read during those years, and those who have
> done so only recently--think about them.  I would be interested what
> folks think about how posts to ohiobirds have changed since then,
> perhaps some ideas about why, and if you think the exchange about
> knowledge and news has changed, and if so how. Read them and see...
> 
> http://web.archive.org/web/20020627225530/http://aves.net/archives
> /default.htm
> 
> Bill Whan
> 
> ______________________________________________________________________
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