Cliff,
I think that you are being a bit too sensitive about this. 
Most of us appreciate the knowledge that the majority of vendors exhibit
and we value their Histonet responses. I agree that there is a fine line
between advertising and information. If someone asks for information and
you have that available then by all means share it with all of us.
Everyone, including vendors, have a biased view on things, that is only
human nature and most of we can distinguish this.
I think that many of the comments, mine included, come from the continual
bombardment at work and home with unsolicited advertising and this carries
over somewhat to the Histonet.
Please continue to send relevant information to all of us.
Thanks
Barry.
  

At 02:23 PM 07/07/2000 -0400, you wrote:
>I have stopped replying to histonet querries unless they are directly
related 
>to my products.  Then, I only respond to the person who initiated the
chain.  
>The histonet community has drawn a very fine line in the sand.  We can offer 
>our services but we cannot appear to be selling our services. If we cross 
>that line,  we get slammed. That hurts our reputation far more than any good 
>will we might generate by offering our expertise.  I know that I manufacture 
>a very good product and that is what I rely on.  That is why my business has 
>been around for more than 43 years.  That is why so many have tried to 
>duplicate what my father started so many years ago.  When we first joined
the 
>histonet, we danced around every reference to decalcification trying to help 
>you without trying to sell ourselves.  However, we are in business and we 
>can't risk hurting ourselves by answering a querry and then getting blasted 
>for it, in the open, in front of everyone on the net.  Clearly it is a new 
>world out here and we are trying to figure it out.  I am on several list 
>servers for several industries.  Vendors and consultants do know their
stuff. 
> The servers that seem to work best for everyone are the ones where all 
>participants can freely offer their expertise without risking their 
>reputations.  You will not get a free and open exchange of ideas if vendors 
>and consultants are treated differently that everyone else. 
>
>Cliff Berger
>President
>Decal Chemical Corp
>http://www.decal-bone.com
>1-800-428-5856
>
>