In last night's Digest I indicated that I was going to suspend printing
any more of the articles coming in about "Ivory" unless they were on
topic of the original question regarding a specific incident at
Canadian customs.  I did indicate in my message that I might later print
some of the more "interesting" of the off-topic messages.  Several
of our subscribers have taken me to task on this editorial decision.
Frankly, since I did say that I "might" print some of the more
interesting ones later, I sense a bit of impatience.

I'm still stewing on risking a political discussion getting started
here, but one message I received pointed out: "Ivory is NOT off-topic.
All piano restorers, including player-piano ones, must deal with this
issue."

In fact, prior to this discussion, over 40 messages have been
received and included in the Digest on Ivory keytops, restoration,
gluing, substitute materials, etc.

So I'm still pondering what to do with the messages I've received.
I'm thinking that maybe we'll have an "All Ivory" issue where the
remaining messages on this topic get aired.  I expect a few more
messages on the topic of the "Ivory trade" to come in this weekend.
I would like to ask a favor, though.  If you have an issue with my
editing, please make that an e-mail separate from any thoughts
you have on Ivory.  I think that those interested in reading
more about the Ivory issues probably don't want to know whether or
not the writer was hostile towards me for delaying their message(s).
(Yes, I'm sorry to say that "hostile" is the tone of some of the
mail I received.)

I'm trying really hard to make the Digest a friendly place with easy
to read articles.  I'm really torn when I get a message which is either
so poorly structured that its hard to read or contains interesting
and/or useful content but also contains a hostile or smart-assed remark
that might potentially offend some of the readers.  Sometimes its easier
to just not publish something than to have to either 1) edit it
and risk either changing its meaning or offending the writer, or
2) carry on a dialog via e-mail with the writer until its form
is mutually acceptable.

I've received a surprising number of gripes since Robbie's been on
vacation about editorial decisions and its hard to know how to deal
with them.  I don't want the folks who are griping to stop writing!
Please, however, don't assume that I'll publish everything that's
sent in, or that it will be published verbatim.

Thanks for your patience and consideration.
Jody