Well, Roger hasn't replied below, but I'll try to be brief.

A board is only as good as its members. I think even Canie would agree with me on that, and that in no way is meant to slight Canie's excellent handling of this board.

Problems arise for those of us on this board (and not on Syzygy) when acrimony on that board spills over here, and I don't mean just the very occasional grumbling we are all wont to partake in when feeling off, but words that are downright insulting.

Before Roger outright insulted Ara below, he and Michael took what I erroneously believed to be potshots at Ara, who, as everyone knows, was asked not to post here any more. I enjoyed Ara, but that is besides the point. Ironically, Ara and I initially got off on the wrong foot when he attacked something John V. had said (based on some thread on Syzygy), and I came to John's defense. We have since, however, become friends.

I have five kids. I have always tried to teach them that it's not the "whats" in life that matter as much as the "hows." The way you address someone is key, whether you agree with them or not. Yes, the "whats" matter, but if you don't pay attention to the "hows," how will you ever get your point across?

Your thoughts may be brilliant, but they will never be heard unless you present them politely. Your thoughts may be dear to your heart, whether scientific or general, but if you don't post them in an articulate and pleasant manner, they will fall on deaf ears and/or inflame others.

People who post things like, "You're a piece of s*** and your ideas are stupid," are essentially discrediting themselves, though they may not think that they are at the time. I, for one, will make a mental note that such and such a person may be an a**hole, when they may be the nicest person in the world removed from the earthquake prediction boards. Who knows?

I believe we should collectively try, as a board, to take the high road and refrain from insulting each other in any way on Earth Waves. I also would like to suggest that arguments started on Syzygy stay on Syzygy, so that people like me don't misinterpret a poster's intent, as I have done thrice, now. That would make Earth Waves a nice respite from some of the other prediction boards and that, in turn, would make Canie's job that much easier.

Cathryn