one last comment....

taking people at face value has always seemed to me a polite thing, in this space or any other. we have all at one time wanted to be other than we are, or tried to emphasize one part of our personality over another. why not? to dig up someone's hidden side may prevent them from becoming who they strive to be. there is usually a reason people show one face or another...and that shoudl be respected.

this doesn't of course mean we should stop being careful. always use your brains when meeting someone you've never met before.

pax, ceit (who's wired on lack of sleep and beginnning to babble)