Update: Rewritten to more accurately reflect the points I was actually trying to make.

(You had to mention dangly bits, didn't you?)

I would venture to guess that we all have our moments of crystalline inscrutability, regardless of gender, race, age, experience, or other *useless* trivia. Yet, we also have unique experiences that can benefit the whole community, if we're ready to set aside any interest in matters that really aren't our concern.

I suppopse it's natural to be curious about Abigail's choices, but that curiosity is better handled through private /msgs, not through public discussion.

Do you remember that recent row between a certain monk and chromatic, over disagreements regarding certain DBI techniques? I can't speak for everyone, but I felt a bit queasy when some of the commentary got personal. There may have been some legitimate discussion there, however, it got lost in the icky bits.

If we seriously want to encourage everyone to our members, then we need to accept everyone for who they are, not what we perceive them to be. People have many reasons for making certain choices and, quite frankly, those choices aren't anyone else's business.

Since this is the 'Net; there are many good reasons to be cautious. I don't publish my personal details for reasons I've chosen not to share. Most people respect that. I know of other monks who've done the same, presumeably for similar, though different reasons.

Personally, I don't care how people come up with their handles. I'd rather focus on either helping them learn what little I know or learn from their skills. I want to master Perl. If I happen to learn personal details about the people that teach me, fine. But, I'm more interested in learning.

It's human nature to be curious, however, you might have been better served to have directed your curiosity more appropriately. In this case, you should have either kept quiet (preferred, in my book) or sent private messages and seen what you could have learned.

Now, it appears that we've (briefly, I hope) lost access to an extensive Perl resource--again. If it's a permanent loss this time, then we are poorer for the departure.

We need to encourage all interested parties to become involved in our art and the ones related to it. We need everyone's imagination, input, and creativity.

If you have any interest in "Star Trek," you may recall that Vulcans have a saying: "Infinite Diversity; Infinity Combinations." It's not exactly a religion, but it is a belief that all members of a society can contribute ("Each according to their gifts") and that we can only achieve our best potential when we allow all to contribute equally, regardless of their individual differences.

You are, of course, allowed to be surprised. There are other skills that you may also wish to cultivate: tact, grace, and awareness.

--f