On , Mike Yust (1:138/293) wrote to creasey@worldnet.att.net:
 
 > problem. This is a civilized group!
 > 
 > Mary
 > 
 MY>When did this happen? I have been to my share of cons at 4am, 
 MY>where did we find civilization?

Hanged if I know, but after participation on a number of other echoes and
newsgroups I have come to the somewhat unnerving conclusion that filkers, at
least filkers on the net, are among the most *civilized* correspondents of the
lot...

And at that even under stressful situations like the proposal of
rec.music.filk, and the discussions that took place.  I was proud to be
associated with filkdom.

Of course we're all fairly good at making our words say what we intended them
to, and I've observed considerable civility on the SF echo (where a lot of
writers can be found) as well.  But I haven't read any of the existing writers'
echoes/newsgroups - anybody out there with experience with same have any
evidence I might be on the right track?

Or is it just "an armed society is a polite society"?  :->