[Andrew Mandelbaum]

Dear Sam,
After several hours of counting the beads on my WWED (What Would Emitt Do) bracelet, I have realized that I should have much more Emitt in me and much less me. I apologize for allowing our clear and lasting differences to let me read your comment in such a way and to respond in a very un-Emitt like fashion. I will not lick your nose as Emitt demands however. We disagree terribly on the nature of poetry, ritual, magic and what a dog is. And I think it matters alot. But violence, even words, doesn't help much here and I could have said so much differently.
I put this here, on its own, because the other thing is it own thing, not this thing.

[Jayne Osborn]

Andrew,

Though you've directly addressed Sam, I assume you won't mind others replying as it's a General Talk thread.

I applaud you for making a public apology like this. You could, of course, have simply PMed Sam but this is a much more magnanimous gesture.

We all get p***ed off with others at times - and some threads contain horrible remarks from this person to that person... which is a great pity as we should just be nice to one another, regardless of our differing opinions.

Poets are nice people, after all!

Jayne

[R. S. Gwynn]

Thanks for calling my attention to this thread, Jayne. Andrew, I accept your apology. I doubt that we significantly differ in our views on dogs.

[James Brancheau]

That's gotta be one of the best make ups, on both sides, I've ever seen here. But can we get back on topic? My family's always had a dog, and my mother, who's 75 now and lives alone, just lost Toby, a black Lab, to cancer. It was horrible. (She called me at a strange time and I knew something was up.) Anyway, in time, she thinks she wants a Border Collie. They're adorable (I'd like to raise one myself), but aren't they a bit high maintenance? I think perhaps she should get another black Lab, but that might just remind her of Toby. Any thoughts?

[R. S. Gwynn]

My next door neighbor has a pit bull pup (female). I don't think I'd recommend one though this one is really cute. Actually, it's very hard to recommend dogs for other people. Take her to the SPCA when she's emotionally ready. I lost my two labs in the same year awhile back, and I'll never own another dog. My son lends us his "mutt" sometimes when they go out of town. Sydney the Granddog.

[Ann Drysdale]

Perhaps those who want to discuss dogs in general should start another thread. This one had a different purpose and deserves to be left in peace.

[John Whitworth]

Cripes. I thought Emitt was a person. Are Americans generally dog people? We have dogs, of course we do. But the Southern Brits are cat people in general. Everybody has a cat, or two cats, or even more cats.

Lets hear it for the cats.

And the ferrets.

[Jayne Osborn]

It was a lovely gesture on Andrew's part to say sorry (and in such a pleasant way, with Emitt advising nose licking ) and equally good that Sam accepted it in the spirit in which it was meant.

Thank you Andrew. Thank you Sam.

But the purpose of this thread has been accomplished and it's not a general discussion on the merits or otherwise of different breeds of dog. I had an adorable dog myself for 17 wonderful years and haven't replaced her - but let's talk about our faithful friends on a new thread.

Anyone can start it - please feel free. This one is now closed.