[mental4astro (Alexander)]

You know, after reading this thread's development, and a few PM's on the matter, I am now seriously considering pulling the pin all together on the monthly jaunts a few of us mad dogs get up to.

If me, in organising this, am liable for any mishap that someone decides to pin on someone, then really ruins the whole thing.

We are not organised in any fashion other than as an informal get together of folks with a common interest. There is no way in the world this do could be formalised in any form - club structures, members, money, etc. It is hard enough for me to do what I do, and my good intensions have exposed my family's security, what a load of rubbish!

The whole thing has been done on good faith. Even asking a favour every month of the manager of the Airfield we use exposes them. Are we STARK RAVING MAD in this society now!

I am really pissed with this.

Oh, and actually, most folks who don't know anything about our hobby, and rock up to an astro viewing night, actually DO expect to attend a flood lit field! They really do. Just ask them. Then they see no lights at all, and they get defensive. Are we really surprised. I guess it's because we as the initiated take it for granted. Cripes I've even had ASIO called on me because some dope saw my truss dob as a suspicious device and refused to believe me that it was a scope.