[Leica] e-Mail and "english"

[Alastair Firkin <firkin@netconnect.com.au>]

Dear Friends,

One thing that a few years on the LUG has taught me is that you have to be
careful in applying ones "sense of humour" or local traits to the whole
group. We may all be communicating in "English", but there are some major
differences in tonality. Many of the things that drive our American cousins
"insane" would pass by without a wimper here in Australia. Poor Horst is
unlikely to be angling for a pasting yet he is sinking into deep and dark
waters. He upset me when he first joined the group, but I'm sure he did not
mean to and so I let it pass uncommented on. I do not say this to upset any
of the wonderful people I've met or "crossed" swords with here on this
group, and I would hate to have missed out on the wonderful friendships and
communications I've made. There is a gulf of cultural difference here, and
one of the differences is the level of tolerance seen as acceptable.
Tolerance is the only way that a group as diversified as this one will
survive "intact". Lets keep the diversity. It brings with it a new view on
the world that may differ from our own. I desperately try to see the other
side of the coin before flipping it back into circulation. If freedom of
thought and expression are as important to all of us as they should
rightfully be, then let us display tolerance to those who differ in their
opinions, civility in our responses, and pride in our own opinions without
the arrogance of one who cannot listen or learn.

I wish you all love luck and laughter and better light than I had yesterday
at the Agricultural show ;-)

cheers

Alastair Firkin

http://users.netconnect.com.au/~firkin/AGFhmpg.html