As a recent devotee of this forum, I liken it to visiting a multi-stage music festival. Yes, so I'm a folkie from way back - but I have the choice of listening in on a folk performance which I may find enchanting or boring. Then pass by some event that I had never experienced, and just maybe encounter a performance that is quite captivating in a genre I had previously ignored.

In short the freedom to pick and choose, learn and enjoy, is what I enjoy most about this site. Unlike attending a $100 a seat concert, I have the choice to leave after 5 minutes and not feel cheated. I feel no guilt in not spending any great amount of time on subjects that don't interest me - but I do agree with previous contributors - some supercially uninteresting threads do produce real gold.

To those contributors with different values and ideas, I value your diversity. Enjoy.

John