Being in a position, like I am at present, to comment on a given situation can be an advantage if one can learn from a mistake. To share that mistake with friends, associates, peers and members so that they can benefit from the error of another, learn from it, and not repeat the same thing is one of the positive aspects of having this format at my disposal this week.

Recently, I made such a mistake. I said some things, in a manner that was inappropriate to both the situation, and to the people I made the reamrks to. Suffice it to say, I am not going into the details here, but the targets of my remarks have accepted my apology.

The reason I am bringing this up in this very public format is to pass on a few things to the rest of the OTF community in the hopes that we all do more thinking before we start talking/typing.

One thing I have had to learn, and at time it has been very difficult for me, is that what we say when we type does NOT have the advantage of eye contact, tone of voice, inflection in phrasing, conversational volume, etc. We are typing, not talking. So, what we "say" is not necessarily what is "heard" by the person you are talking to. And the things that we type have to be, in many instances, shorter, clearer, more concise and specific that what we would impart in a face-to-face conversation.

When we are speaking to each other in the real world, we have the opportunity to quickly explain, rephrase, or even take back a remark that may have been said in anger, frustration, haste or hurt. But when we are "talking" on a discussion list, in an email, or even on icq or msn or aim, what we see and say immediately shows up on the screen, and there is no "deleting" what is written and instantly transmitted.

In addition, when we are giving instructions, asking for assistance, making changes, or trying to justify a point of view, we have to step back and read and reread what we are writing/have written before we hit that "send" button. Because what we said may not be what we meant by the time it gets to the recipient. We need to take that one extra minute and think about what we say before we say it. I know that I am one who inserts foot in mouth more often that is really necessary, because I tend to move faster than is smart sometimes.

So, I guess the purpose of this "Message from the Editor" is twofold this month. First, to again say to those that I was unkind to, that I appreciate your acceptance of my apology, and then, to the members, expecially to the ones who may be new to this method of communication, that, as you become part of the OTF community, that you take this little bit of advice to heart and read and think before you "send".