Appropriate disscussion for this list from a posting newbie

[Sam]

It's not quite eight thirty in the morning here and I've got up to 
find Dina, Steve, Dave and Kelley have been having what reads as 
quite a heated discussion on list content.

Dina, how are you feeling? You mentioned feeling rough at one point.
I do like your idea of using OT chatter to refine theories and float 
ideas. If you ever do come across a smaller group with fewer posting 
rules I'd really appreciate a link for it.

Kelley, thank-you too. I will be investigating the suggestions you 
made as and when I get time. I will also contribute to the Feedback 
list when I've read the last few posts and got a feel for what is 
going on over there. I joined it last night when Dave posted that 
he'd raised some of the issues that had come up it OT Chatter over 
there. (Thanks to Dave for noticing us floundering newbies, I am 
certainly interested in what you have had to say and will make a 
point of reading it later.)

Steve, you had several words of encouragement for newbies and 
suggested that the rules were an effective way of maintaining 
quality of discussion. This was very kind of you, thank-you.
You do however, seem to assume that we are all, as adults, seeking 
great thought and insight into Harry Potter.
I can't say that this is true for me. I enjoy the series enourmously 
and like to consider it's progress as a way of keeping my brain 
active. (I'm an at-home mum:)
I would say that it has not yet taken over my thought processes. 
(I'm glad it has yours, the Lexicon is wonderful by the way, and 
congratulations on being JKR's latest fansite winner.)
I can normally only manage a sentence or two of Harry Potter thought 
at a time. I also find a lot of my ideas are quite difficult to 
defend in the style of a debate because they are based on personal 
experience and view of the characters. I love them becuase I've 
known people who resemble most of them. Jim Ferer made a suggestion 
some months ago on the main list that we could try to predict 
further actions of the characters using our understanding of them 
and their past behaviour. Terrific idea Jim and I'm sorry I didn't 
reply. Perhaps I will someday.
IMHO the posts on the main list are certainly of a high quality and 
I appreciate it. I don't aspire to write them however.
I would like to make a suggestion. Next time there is a juicy bit of 
news released how would people feel about announcing on list that we 
should meet in the chat room? I love sunday chat because 
contributing in half-formed thoughts is acceptable and feedback is 
instant. We could then pick over the transcrips to form coherent 
posts. It's just a thought:)
I appologise for shouting again but:
OMG, YOU DON'T THINK SHE RUSHED TO GET THE TRANSCRIPT OF HER Q AND A 
IN EDINBURGH OUT *BECAUSE* WE WERE CHATTING THAT NIGHT DO YOU?

Ooops. I slipped into squeeing mode. I appologise.

Sam.
(Who doubts that she will write a post of this length again because 
in the course of doing so her two-year-old has seen more television 
that I consider healthy and I have had to type with one hand stuck 
up a furry, green crocodile. If anyone is interested I would also 
like to announce that Hermione took five steps yesterday, she's not 
yet one:)