[Kokatha man]

Dear Vinnie - I'm sorry if you find my thread offensive or off-putting (though you could of course ignore it) but omnivorr replied to me and brought up the issue of EQ platforms.

Many dob mount people use them and find them of great merit: and for the life of me I can't see how this thread could possibly interfere with you (or anyone else's) ability to view responses to "replies from a couple of blokes who have asked for reasonable advice re mounts" (sic) - your quote.

Perhaps you have taken unintended offence (or do not/cannot appreciate) attempts by me to inject a little humour into subjects which we are all passionately interested in. Perhaps you are unable to understand that the content actually is quite serious, and that like yourself, many of us are really quite experienced/knowledgable about areas pertaining to these interests. I myself can call on over 50 years of experience/involvement in skywatching and AA.

One thing I totally disagree with is your confused perception of this thread as containing "slanging" or "bunfighting" - it has not and never will contain such from my part, and I don't believe any other contributor to the thread has done such.

At any rate Vinnie, I wish you the best and (belated) New Season's Greetings and the capacity to surf and view or interact as you wish, regards, Darryl.

ps - back in 1956 I started with my old man's binoculars, the star atlas (mainly northern hemisphere) and The Big Golden Book of Astronomy; with a burning desire and head full of questions and wonder: however, I would never attempt to tell others how they should get started in anything - but perhaps that's because I'm a bit of an anomoly amongst Australian Aboriginal people, a mad astronut and (proud) Kokatha (Western Desert) man!