It has been a, as Spock would put it, facinating time here lately. We have celebrated milestones, and shared in comforting in times of sorrow. Those of us that are fortunate have seen just the good, the hope and the possibilities of our joint endeavour that is the WCG. We can take pride in doing, in however small a way, our part to make this a better world, one that better reflects our hopes and dreams. There are those of us who are here because we find comfort in the hope that in some small way, we are doing something, anything to help ensure that others do not have to walk the path we have had to take. I consider myself one who has been fortunate to only have had to taste merely the possibility and not the certainty. I have sat there with my wife and heard the words, the concerns of one specialist who recommended we see yet another in a city in a different part of the country. We've felt the coldness of that fear that envelops you, sought out hour after hour after hour of information wherever I could find it. We've known the life and death difference of a few millimeters. And then experienced the draining relief of being told by that yet another specialist that it was not what we feared.

Many of us who have chosen to be a part of this aspect of the ongoing battle have joined together into teams. Teams not of competition, not of winners or losers but teams of compatriots joined in our common cause. We are all human but we cannot allow our shortcomings to detract from our objective. When we insult and denigrate another, we do so to all, not just the one. When attacked, it is our nature to defend, to perhaps attack in response, to "circle the wagons" with those around us. Many of us have more than our share of struggles, we do not need another that is pointless, needless and of no benefit to any of us.

We all agreed to abide by those rules that govern our activities here in these forums. There are several that we have lost sight of lately:

• Please remember that profane language is not tolerated and will be deleted
  
• Please do not start Flame Wars in the Forums, as this will not be tolerated
  
• Please do not reignite inflammatory threads by creating new threads after existing threads on the same topic have been closed
  
• Please do not be rude to other members nor retaliate if a member is rude to you
  

There is a red frowning face at the bottom right of eash post. It has been my expectation that I would never have to utilize it. Most of us who have joined in this common cause do so silently. A small portion of that have and do choose to participate in these forums for a wide variety of reasons. Yet another portion of us have chosen to gather into teams for a multitude of reasons. Those who would choose to detract from our joint efforts are few but have given pause to reflect on my own responsibilities. It would seem that I may well have to acquaint myself with that small red face. Perhaps I have been remiss in my own responsibility to do so prior to this point. Regretfully, I cannot allow myself to be so any longer. I for one cannot and must not.

Please, if only for those of us who have far more personal reasons than most for our involvement here, grant us an environment of civilty.