You guys are going off the deep end here. Bill's commercial post was a completely different thread.....on MY news reader. (See what I mean.)
Just the same way you can't ASSume that everybody drives a 3 hp. Stubby with a complete selection of Glaser tools, you can't ASSume that everybody uses the same news reader you do, or that other people are even >useingedge< on this once very family-friendly newsgroup. Now, I'm not casting any stones, but the tone is decidedly similar to that often found on rec.woodworking, and in fact, can be found on posts and in threads that are crossposted with msgs from that particular forum.
Many people have bemoaned the departure of sundry luminaries from our midst over the past year, and yet few have managed to tie these two events together. I can remember half a dozen people who used to post here in great volume and through their efforts, insight and humor taught us much and made us laugh a lot. Yet most have departed for greener and friendlier pastures, all because a few blowhards think it's okay to treat total strangers worse than they treat their dog, or that just because someone doesn't excoriate them for it, their gutter language is acceptable here.
Personally, it's no skin off my nose who comes or goes. I've been here almost since Day 1, and on UseNet since well before that, so nothing is a surprise to me. This isn't "my" newsgroup, and I'm not the self-appointed NetCop for it....just making observations gleaned from years of watching and reading. Besides, most people ignore my posts and I've often said, the quickest way to end a thread is to have me respond to it, so I'm used to being ignored.
So, digest it or spit it out, as you will. Just some food for thought.