I like the way the Chatham Chatlist works to get local community information out to the public

Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2011 10:27:41 -0500
From: Kathy Zinn
Subject: Comment on a comment

I am writing to comment on Angela Blueskies’ complaints about the Chatlist and the issue of Fracking.  Ms. Blueskies,  I have enjoyed reading your postings.  You sound like an interesting person with much to offer this community.  

I hope that you have also read my postings  on The Compassionate Friends.   This variety of local information and comment  is what the Chatlist is about.  I, too, am a newcomer to Chatham County.  Two  years ago we moved from the (somewhat) progressive area around Charlottesville, VA.  One of the things I love about this county is the mix of people with  many points of view.  And I have been amazed at all the artistic, creative and committed people who are both natives and “move-ins” as you and I are.

My understanding is that Gene does this Chatlist mostly as a service to this community, and largely on his own.  The discussions and postings of many kinds are  already very lengthy.  I have seen little to no directing of what people post, unless one issue begins to take over the discussion (such as the recent criticisms and  defenses of our local restaurants). Gene has gone to the trouble to set up another way to discuss Fracking, a very important issue, indeed, on-line.  I appreciate his doing this, although I have not yet joined it myself.  In addition, I do not believe he ever claimed to be an expert on this subject, or even to make his own comment on it.  Rather,  he has published comments of many shades of opinion, and different lengths, for some time now.  All I see him doing now, is re-directing  comments to where a more intense discussion can go on, and  possibly build more community and cooperation around this issue.     I hope you will  continue to get to know our community, contribute to it, and enjoy it as much as I do. 

All the best!    

Kathy Zinn