Canie and Michael, I apologize.

I just added a couple of "hear hear" messages that I now wish I hadn't. Sorry.

Michael, I think you missed the point of my appeal.

Tone is everything. I have no problem with people disagreeing as long as it doesn't get insulting. To my way of thinking, it's not the What, it's the How that matters in life.

Yes, the tone on this board far exceeds that of other lists I've been on, but sometimes the comments do get "attacking" and I don't understand the need for that, even when the person on the attack is positing an pov I agree with.

I wish everyone would model their behavior on you and Don, who both manage to disagree with people occasionally without getting snippy.

As for the "females being ignored" issue, maybe I am overreacting, and if so, again let me apologize.

I have often asked substantive, earthquake-related questions on this forum that have gone unanswered.

I'm sorry about the bandwith issue. I hadn't thought of that. Still, I think if you look at my posts in the last two years, I take up very little bandwith compared to some others. I try not to junk up the list with a lot of chit chat or endless blather.

I guess I have to ask "Why am I here?" If I must only lurk to learn, that's what I will do. But if I ask an earthquake-related question, why is my question ignored when other people's aren't?

I have always tried my best to be polite and supportive, yet some people on this list simply refuse to acknowledge my questions/comments in any way. I don't know if that's a female thing (believe me, I am not a militant feminist), or if I simply present as grating or obnoxious.

This post has probably taken up the most bandwith of any I've ever posted.

Sorry, I just don't get it. If people here think I'm a pain in the a**, I will be silent.

I'm not asking for kudos or sympathy, just the same respect other posters on this list are afforded. That, and not to have to eavesdrop on personal sniping, some of which has been downright ugly in the past.

I learn a lot here, and I am very grateful for this site. But I don't make the rules, here, you do, and I will abide by them.

Please enlighten me.

Thanks,

Cathryn