Okay, everyone, thanks for all the input. My decision is that specific "Want to meet" posts are off-topic for this board.
The original post that sparked this discussion was clearly not Cape Dory related, and I want to avoid the mistake of using it to issue a blanket rule against mentioning being single or wanting to meet someone. We welcome bona fide Cape Dory related "Seeking Crew" or "Want to Crew" posts, and there's nothing wrong with mentioning a preference for single sailors of a particular sex. I will exercise my judgment as to whether a post is clearly Cape Dory related, and delete those that are pure singles ads or that mention Cape Dorys only to justify their posting. This is what I would do with any post with little or no Cape Dory content that seeks to exploit this message board.
I reached this decision after considering all the comments. (Those who commented ran 10 to 6 against singles posts. Kind of a consensus, but not overwhelming. Also, many of those opposed to dating posts are unmarried, so it's not a case of us versus them.)
I am heartily in favor of people looking for mates with a shared interest, and, having married late in life, greatly sympathize with those who find themselves alone this season, as the days grow shorter and the boats are hauled. Since a sizable minority of the comments expressed concern for support of single boaters, I will stretch a point and put some links in to boater dating sites, such as Russell's <a href="
http://www.egroups.com/group/sail-mates">Egroups board</a> (if it takes off) or other sites people tell me about.
However, while there are plenty of sites on the Internet for singles seeking same, this board is for "questions, answers and comments about Cape Dory sailboats and motor yachts," as it says in large letters right at the top of the message board. Dating posts do not fit that category. There is also a fine line between contributing to the give and take on the board, and exploiting it for one's own purposes, and IMO a pure dating post crosses that line (as would a pure "sails for sale" post, or a chain letter).
Several posters, particularly <a href="
http://www.toolworks.com/cgi-bin/tw/wwb ... 0">Michael Abramson</a>, eloquently presented the case for singles posts. Michael, you argued that finding someone who is also a CD enthusiast is difficult and this board should be available for that. Perhaps if Louise's post had mentioned anything about Cape Dorys, I might have had a different reaction to it. But it struck me as something that might have been posted here and in any number of other sailing discussion groups, and sailing was not a big part of the post.
"Seeking Crew" or "Want to Crew" posts do support Cape Dory boats and are very much on topic. We've had a number of those on this board. One could mention one's marital status in such a post, as long as it's clearly a crew post and not a thinly disguised singles ad. <a href="
http://www.toolworks.com/cgi-bin/tw/wwb ... 3535">John Vigor's comment</a> drew a reasonable line IMO, but I would go a bit further and say that if someone is a sincere Cape Dory enthusiast and posts a message that they want to go sailing with someone of a particular sex, I would not have a problem with that, as long as it was basically a Cape Dory post and a let's go sailing post, but not "I want someone tall with a great sense of humor who will barbecue, hike, eat and drink - oh, yeah, and go sailing too."
The <a href="
http://www.toolworks.com/capedory/regis ... egistry</a> is another place where a CD owner could indicate being single and wanting to meet other single sailors - hopefully, in not any more words than that. IMO a full-blown singles ad would not be in good taste there either.
Louise's posts in this thread have been on the topic of what is acceptable content for this board. Since she posted the <a href="
http://www.toolworks.com/cgi-bin/tw/wwb ... 3536">full text of her original message</a> (for the third time) in the context of that discussion, it is an acceptable post and it stays. If you want to reply to her, please give an old Webmaster a break and do it by email.
John Phillips, no <a href="
http://www.toolworks.com/cgi-bin/tw/wwb ... apology</a> needed; I'm glad you sparked this discussion. I try to keep the board responsive to what the group wants, and it's good (and fun) to hash questions out when they arise.
Hope you all agree I've given enough thought to this. Louise, best of luck to you and I hope you find what you're looking for. The rest of you, get back to those blisters and gaskets.
Best wishes to all,
Walt Bilofsky
Webmaster, CCDO
bilofsky@toolworks.com