In response to the e-mail that Chuck Smorse received....

If you don't like what you're seeing posted here on the Chip Board and are thinking it represents the majority of those involved in the hobby, please consider the following:

1. The people who read and post on this board represent a small percentage of the club membership. There are over 2,700 active members of the and there were over 3,500 people who visited the convention showroom this year. And, I'll venture to say the majority of them never know what's going on here on The Chip Board. Heck, some enjoy their hobby just fine without even owning a computer.

2. If reading the posts by certain parties gets you agitated, then don't read them. It's fairly easy to tell by the titles in a thread that you're not going to be missing out on any crucial chip knowledge by doing so. If that doesn't do it for you, then take a vacation from The Chip Board for a while. I bet you'll survive, and things will have probably blown over by the time you return.

3. If you don't like what's being posted, post something different yourself. Take a little initiative to post something positive and chip-related. Scan your favorite chip or share something you've learned in a book.

4. Don't worry that the is going to self-destruct or that the latest flame war will lead to the end of the hobby. There have been flame wars before and there will be again. That is the only thing that is certain. We're all humans and humans tend to squabble every once in a while.

5. Try to have fun and ignore those who interfere with reaching that goal.