Three of them, quoted on a major TV network news show tonight, complained that ugly, offensive fighting among bloggers, was ruining their sites, prompting many participants to leave.
So far, I have not noticed a lot of this on Blogstream which may result from good management as well as the finesse of participants who for the most part, prefer to share their thoughts with care.
Disagreements are bound to happen.
Certainly they should.
Were it not so, we'd all be puppets.

Some like it hot. Others do not! Given a choice of sweltering on a hot day, or, finding a way to stay warm during a blizzard, I'd prefer the latter.
Still, no matter the weather, stuff needs to be done even on a sweltering Sunday. So, today I tackled the task of ridding invasive tap-rooted knapweed from my natural yard, which by choice is ungroomed and full of beautiful wild plants and tall beach grasses.
The plants take turns blooming from time to time according to their habits. I've identified more than two dozen varieties.
Then along comes the dreaded knapweed threatening to take over the territory as it has in other locations.
There's only one solution This weed must be removed before it goes to seed, spreading and taking over the place. It's taproot creeps underground,sprouting new knapweed far from its origin.
Eradicating the stuff is a never-ending job.
Today, some of it could be removed tap root and all. Others were stubborn, refusing to give up their taproot, so I cut them down.
It's a job never ending until winter snows come along.
Is it worth it?
You bet! Just as is removing bad influences from one's life.

Keeping a kayak upright was the top lesson in today's floating seminar for newbies to the fine art of managing a kayak - part of a long week-end event.
Hundreds of kayakers with their craft are in town for classes, some arriving with their crafts perched atop their cars. This is a funny sight in some cases, when the kayak's longer than a very small car.
Here are the first words I heard from an instructor teaching a class of eight, each sitting in a wobbling kayak just off shore near the beach where I take a daily walk:
"It's not in the paddle. It's in the body."
Come to find out, today's lesson was how to keep the kayak upright in rough water.
With just the right body movement, the kayak will not overturn.
Today the water was calm, so the wet-suited instructor, standing in cold shallow water, grabbed the student's kayak, then wobbled it.
Some students tipped far enough over to get their heads wet. Others landed in the water.
Those with the most practice or agility, performed the body movements needed to keep them upright.
This whole scenario reminded me of life in general. No matter what tools one might have, in the end it's action that counts.

Famed pediatrician, Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, at age 89, still sees his most important mission as fostering a sense of competent, loving, joyful parenting.
He's the author of more than 200 books on the subject. He sees his writings on the subject as extremely relevant in today's fast-paced society.
He believes that recognizing individual differences in children is of particular importance.
If you are a parent or plan to be, his books are worth a look.
Search the Web for more information on Dr. Brazelton, who still has a pediatric practice and works to foster a sense of competent, loving, joyful parenting.

"Noise proves nothing," said Mark Twain. "Often a hen who has merely laid an egg - cackles as if she'd laid an asteroid."