RE: VAT OT

"Laurie Solomon" <laurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> · Sun, 31 Mar 2002 13:36:20 -0600

For starters, it is a subject (OT or not) which started up on this list as a
result of a very innocent question where the questioner asked "What is VAT?"
The discussion came about in response to that question (although at times
additional rants were added with respect to such things as VATs, sales
taxes, and taxation in general among other things).  My response which you
quote in part and object to is very closely tied to responding to the
original question by attempting to elaborate on the explanation of what a
VAT is and is not as well as how it differs from the typical sales taxes
that many in the US are accustomed to.

Secondly, I did not respond privately because there are just too many know
participants in the disucssion to respond to privately let alone those who
are attending to the discussion but have not made themselves know as active
participants.

Obviously many on the list, who have been on the list for a long time, do
not hold to the strict restrictive interpretation of the rules as to what
can be said and discussed so as to prevent any and all off topic subjects
and discussions.  Many even accept this as a fact of life, engage in it
themselves, and find that it makes the conversation much more human and
causal.  They have learned to ignore or deleate those discussions that the
do not wish to read or participate in without creating a fuss, complaining,
or getting annoyed (whether the discussions in question are on or off
topic).  It is only in those case where the dicussion has gone on for too
long or is too far afield or has become too nasty that they raise a
complaint and objection.  Often at that point in time, the participants
themselves realize this to be the case and accept the objection as
legitimate.

While this discussion may be beginning to verge on that border and your
complaint is noted, I do not accept (I am not speaking for others on this
list) your general premise that no off topic chatting should be permitted;
nor do I accept you self assumed role as the list police since you are not
the owner.  That Mitch has not said stop - even given your complaining to
him - should indicate that the specific topic has not reached the stage that
is should be stopped in his eyes and that he judges these things on a thread
by thread basis and not as a general across the board rule. Thus, maybe it
is you who should search for another list if you do not like the way this
one operates and not us. Indeed, why don't you start your own list so you
will be able to be the one in charge and to control the discussions on it to
your liking.

Most of us do not deliberately bring up on a regulart basis any old off
topic subject that we wish for discussion as you accuse; they seem as a
natural function of human communication sort of rise up on their own as an
artifact or byproduct of an ongoing on topic discussion as was the case in
this discussion.  I would say that most on this list are both willing to
accept this as being a normal natural feature of forums and mailing lists
which despite all futile efforts to contain and stop it persists.  Your
complaints not withstanding.  In point of fact your complaints, really do
nothing more than contribute to the off topic clutter that you complain
about.

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-scan@leben.com [mailto:owner-scan@leben.com]On Behalf Of
Charlie
Sent: Sunday, March 31, 2002 7:02 AM
To: scan@leben.com
Subject: Re: VAT OT

  Why in the world can this not be sent PRIVATELY !  This and MANY of your
posts are blatently against list rules and you know it !  Why can't you
understand that this is not a 'chat' line for anything you might feel
compelled to say?  Those interested should join another e-list that
encourages this and the other topics of your interest.

Come on Mitch,  I know you're out there and I hate to invoke your name, but
enough is enough !

Charlie

----- Original Message -----
From: Laurie Solomon <laurie@advancenet.net>
To: <scan@leben.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2002 11:32 PM
Subject: RE: VAT

> While you may be literally correct; the difference is that in most
countries
'blah, blah, blah...'

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