And did you help these newcomers out by being friendly and introducing them to your friends? Typically this is all it takes to perk up someone who is feeling on the outside looking in. Sometimes I know that people are just plain rude, but often I think it is because we, as a culture, have lost the art of small talk and friendliness face to face. Cell phones, text messages and computers have really had an impact on our social skills I think. Cynthia Rbuffdogs@xxxxxxx wrote: Respectfully, I have to disagree, the reason at least a big reason is how newcomers are often poorly treated, and excluded at the shows. They are often given the "cold shoulder" or worse, treated badly by experienced exhibitors/handlers/club members. I have watched it happen over and over, as recently as a couple of weeks ago...I was appalled . Heaven Forbid a newcomer should win or come on scene with a really nice dog or bitch....they become cannon fodder for every mean nasty comment imaginable , and rudeness, and outright ugliness directed at them. It is the real reason new people seldom stick around, can't blame them either. Kathy _Victory German Shepherds_ (http://www.victorygermanshepherds.com/index.htm) ~ WEBSITE UPDATED: MAR 27, 2006 Home of CH. ELVASTON'S NATIONS CUP, TC, OFA H/E DNA'D "NITRO" 25 BISS/ BESTS OF BREED TO DATE 2006 PACIFIC COAST VICTOR ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2006. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - URL temporarily deleted due to AOL issues ============================================================================ --------------------------------- Blab-away for as little as 1¢/min. Make PC-to-Phone Calls using Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2006. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - URL temporarily deleted due to AOL issues ============================================================================