Staying on topic (polite, plaintive plea)

[Eric Van Tassel 101233.342@xxxxxxxx]

As I've had occasion to say before, of all the lists I belong to this one
is the most useful; it also tends, even in moments of political heatedness,
to be the most civil.

But aren't there other communities on the Net where the problems of
advancing technology, planned obsolescence, et hoc genus omne are
discussed? Not to mention Left vs. Right? And dear old Ayn Rand?

If any of my esteemed colleagues [is there an emoticon or acronym for Not
Sarcastic? -- if so, please insert it here] do want to go on discussing
these and other issues with us rather than with some other group, I
encourage them to continue; but in that case can they please change the
subject lines when the topic veers?

Amicably,
Eric Van Tassel