From: "Kate Bennett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > i believe we all have the ability to generate as much love as we want & yes give it to complete strangers as well as those we are in close bounds with... >
I agree completely. I'll tell ya, Kate. It's tough when one sentence of a lengthy post is excerpted and taken out of context and you come across, as I have, as a total A-hole. I don't blame Anne for that, given the remainder of her very kind post of today in response to me, but I did hate to see that same exchange being excerpted without ITS context, too. My point is this. I have nothing against expressions of love. (I'm *all about* love. Really, I am. I'm a pussy cat, and I can cry like a baby at others' victories and defeats, whether I know them or not, whether they be real people or fictional characters in movies, books or songs.) I just don't "get" why personal expressions of love and support (and the opposite) need to be public - verses private - on a public forum peopled by 800-plus subscribers, allegedly dedicated to the discussion of the life and times of Joni Mitchell. When the should-be-private is made public, I can't help but question the motive. And in my three years on the JMDL I've seen numerous examples of exactly that of which I spoke (repeated again, against my better judgment, below). I think all JMDLers have, whether they choose to admit it or not. Victor asked (and I said I wasn't going to post about this topic anymore so didn't answer him): "What bothers you so much about people who have developed close friendships?" NOTHING! They make life worth living! What bothers me is that the day-to-day playing out of JMDL friendships happens on a public forum, rather than in private communication, and does not involve the vast majority of JMDL subscribers. Does no one else see the difference, the distinction I'm trying to draw? Why is it important to people to have others see what it is they have to say to a third party, whether it be support during a tough time or congratulations or what-have-you? Why isn't a private message enough? Is it perhaps because there are no brownie points or "wow, isn't he/she a fantastic person?" thoughts from the greater community then? This really IS the last I want to say about this particular opinion of mine - that being that the private should be voiced privately - no matter what other posts come my way about what I've said. I look forward to becoming a more active JMDLer again, regardless of the character of the list. Due to being away from my computer for extended periods, I am more often a digester than a real-timer. (It's overwhelming to open your inbox and find 200 new messages in it.) It's much easier to delete individual posts than it is to scroll, but I'm up to it. :-) Best, Jim > Jim Leonard wrote: > >My point was that much of the professed "love" between listers is/was delusional and/or insincere, and that it vanishes when the rubber hits the road.<
