"Phil L" wrote in message
. uk...
Alan wrote:
In message .com,
Taz wrote
Welcome Barbara. Still a relative newbie m'self, but they've been
nice to me so far. Soudns like you've got everything under control.
Make good use of the friendly folks here, won't you.

And I don't mind smileys.

Text smileys like the ones you are using are okay but Barbara is
using a web based interface called Gardenbanter that probably uses
picture smileys.

If Barbara includes a picture smiley her post may/will be dropped by
many proper news servers as it contains binary information for a text
only newsgroup. As a result many people will not see her
questions/answers.

It's all academic anyway as the vast majority of gardenbanterers arrive, say
hello, introduce themselves and maybe ask a question and then never return.

I think this is the way newsgroups and forums will go in the future. I even find
myself doing the above if I need some specialist info about HTML or
whatever.........Ask a question - hopefully get a answer - say thanks and depart
till next time.

Back in the old days when not so many people were on the net, newsgroups were
indeed small groups of people that tended to be rather closed. It was all a bit
elitist and this is changing fast. Look how many 'old URGlers' no longer come
in here (Jill, Tony, Anton to name but a few)

At least most GB people introduce themselves (!)

Jenny (ducking behind the compost heap to avoid the flames........)