When I first wrote "responsibility" it was because I felt that I had not taken any personal action to assure myself that someone in trouble was being cared for. I then understood from my museum-l colleagues that some readers had indeed tried to determine the personal safety of the writer. I felt gratified that some folks had had more courage than I and determined that if the situation would arise again I, too, would take some action. Now, however, we all can understand that the situation was much more drastic than any of us realised. The person who wrote the piece was indeed capable of agression that threatened the lives of others and his own. He ultimately died a violent death. So, back to responsibility. No matter how and why the posting came to our list, should we have sent this on to local authorities for some action. Did the writings serve as one of many warnings about future more violent action? Would local authorities have been able to do something that would have protected the writer and those he held hostage? Or since writing e-mail is not a crime, would they have not been able to do anything? What local authorities would we have called? E-mail is a new method of communication. Museum-l is a wonderful if unseen community which helps each other out is large and small ways. Do we have a responsibility in extreme cases to help someone out in need? And now, in hindsight, do we also have a responsibility to help protect the corporate whole? If so, what could we have done that might have stopped the tragedy that ensued? Elaine Heumann Gurian [log in to unmask]