Hi. I've been worrying a little about Jon and Nick.
Hm? What's the matter with them?
Well, I'm not exactly sure, but they're certainly at odds. I've heard grumbling (for want of a better term) from both "sides." I think they both feel "wronged" in some way. The funny thing is that they have both said that "I'd love to be on friendly terms with [name of other person]" but neither seems willing to compromise or forgive or do anything that would mitigate the problem. Jon was just seething at times when I saw him last. He discussed some of his grievances about NUT with me and it seems it would be so easy to set things straight if only they'd sit down and explain and discuss and tell each other just exactly what it is they want (or don't want). I also think if Jon would just not fly off the handle and explain calmly to Nick what's bothering him and if Nick explained his feelings and stands that, if they ended up still disagreeing, at least they could be civil to one another. I just think that they should give each other the benefit of the doubt if they truly want to continue (or resume) being friends. There should be no assumption of spite or malice. Shit, I hope Jon takes this the right way.
I think he will.
Well, I hope so, because I really would not want to lose Jon's friendship just because I tried to be some sort of mediator in this dispute. You know, the things that have Jon pissed are really relatively minor and could be easily fixed (I think). Like his mailbox. If Jon truly wants to be friends with Nick why does he assume spite when Nick deleted his mailbox? Why doesn't he just ask Nick (like he said to me) if he can replace the mailbox from a floppy backup? Oh, shit, I'm getting nowhere. Do you really think Jon will take this ok? And why am I not worried about what Nick will think? He might get upset, too. Somehow, though, Nick strikes me as vulnerable and only gets belligerent when he's in defensive mode. I don't know why Jon gets belligerent, but he does. I'm just talking in circles. I'd better type "Q" right now.
No, I don't think you should do that. If they >do< get mad at you perhaps Romana and Tachyon (who both like you, you know) will stick up for >you< if they feel you need it.
Well, I hope they won't have to. Let's just say this: Can Nick and Jon, who both claim they'd like to be on civil terms with one another >please< sit down and explain their views to each other? If things start getting belligerent, they should split up and resume at a later date. If things continue to be belligerent, well, I guess they truly don't want to be friends. But, since they're both >my< friends I'm willing, at this point, to take them at their word. This may never work out, but if they both truly want it to, it should.