I've developed a technique that serves me well (OK, 90% of the time. Sometimes I can't resist responding). 1. When a thread gets to the '(view all)' stage, it's time I wasn't interested. Very few subjects warrant that level of discussion unless they've developed into 'handbags at dawn' 2. If certain posters who always want the last word are involved, it's time to 'mark' and move on. Let them have the last word. 3. If posts included dissected 'reply with quote', an argument's brewing and I think the posters should transfer to using personal e-mail. Summer's nearly here and whatever depressive syndrome is haunting the newsgroup should lift as we all find something better to do with our lives (like not sitting here at 10:30 in the morning composing this)