I feel welcome.

[Maxmars]

Well I was a non-posting user of ats for ages. I feel that with this new site maybe I should be more pro active in contributing. I might have some knowledge that is worthwhile, even if it's just opinions.

- Note

I don't judge non-posting members... but I do encourage member participation.

I have always been of the approach that a conversation has more value if it is actually just that, a conversation. The idea of productive social media exchanges hinges upon it being more than a platform of manifestos, monologues, and position statements.  That particular perception is what establishment authoritarians want to create... to make permanent the imagery of anything shared being ideology and projections of intent, rather than a measured exploration of a topic.  Their idealization is that everyone should lurk only... (or face their consequences.)

I'm glad you're more open to participating here. 

Lurking, as it is sometimes called, may be notionally 'safer' but as far as communications is concerned, it's flatly sterile.  It's like farming nutritious crops you refuse to actually use. Or making a show of investigating something, but not actually collecting and analyzing your findings.

Anything you contribute is greatly appreciated... and the act of sharing has value in and of itself.

In social media, no one learns where no one teaches.  And we are all teachers, even if it is only about ourselves.