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Offence taken, and appropriate responses

Just a tentative thought from a newcomer to the mailing list.

From time to time we all have taken personally a statement made by someone
which was intended for general consumption, and not directed specificly at
us. Equally some of the discussion here regarding local names for plants is
capable of arousing emotion. Do I as an Irish citizen take offence at the
gardening term for a specific type of cuttings known as "Lazy Irishman's
cuttings" (cuttings taken to include some of the root and some of the stem
of a plant) or to the practice of growing potatoes in 4' wide beds rather
than in drills known as "Irish lazybeds". Perhaps I do ? People have a
right to their personal sensitivities. No-one can tell us how to feel ! 

If I feel offended by a posting what are my options ? Replying in a public
forum surely shouldn't be the immediate response .... that strikes me as
being a bit like placarding the front of McDonalds because one of the
customers or staff was rude. In McDonalds one would presumeably ask to
speak to the manager, then write a letter of complaint to the company etc.
before considering taking more drastic action. 

Perhaps something similar should apply here, so that people with views to
express might write directly to Glen gseibert@tea-house.com  and Duncan
mcalpin@eskimo.com in person. If you open a posting, click file and then
look at the properties of it, you get the original sender's address at the
end of the mailing route, so this should always be an option for people. It
might also be helpful if the listowners address was regularly posted with a
reminder that it should be used as an avenue for complaints, so people
would have a less public means to express complaints about any postings
which they consider offensive. This would also have the effect of
minimising interruptions to the stated purpose of the mailing list.

I hope these thoughts do not give offence to anyone, and wish to apologise
in advance for any offence that may arise. I enjoy lurking on this list,
and hope to contribute to discussion as my propogation skills improve. 
 
Mark Speakman in Annaghdown, Ireland
markspkn@iol.ie
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