Good job I didn't mention the dirty knife

This is posted in the hope of a reasoned debate. However, I suspect and fear that - (always assuming that this thread is not first subject to any imposed editing action) - it will not be too long before posts containing only personal judgements will appear in this thread. I will ignore these, not respond in kind and try to debate the issue – hopefully other posters may also.

Perhaps it is time concepts like declations of war on our forum can be seen for the plain silliness they are and reactions to posts can be allowed to return to being proportionate? Addressing what is said - rather than who may be saying it or making asumptions about their motivation?

The attempt (by a certain few of my fellow posters) to use such a silly concept as an excuse and justification for calling certain of their fellow posters names and making abusive personal attacks and to encourage others to follow suit -is very sad. For the concept of declaration of personal wars on our forum is too juvunile for serious consideration - for it is everyone who loses in any war.

All that certain posters are repeatedly posting here to express their frustration at - is fellow posters expressing and evidencing a view that may be different to their own. Rather responding to what is said or simply ignoring it.

This on a discussion forum set-up for exactly that purpose. An exchange of views can surely still be undertaken on our forum without any need to resort to the sort of personal judgements of fellow posters by fellow posters evidenced here and seemingly now thought to be acceptable? In fact certain of these posters seem to think - and are perhaps encouraged to think - that they should not only post to make (increasingly) abusive personal attacks but that they can at the same time retain the moral high-ground.   

There now appears to be a complete misunderstanding of what should be made public on a discussion forum and what should be conveyed via PMs. Those who have been posting for a long time and who should know better – also seem confused about this and do not set a very good example.

Making personal judgements to or about and having conversations about fellow posters on a public discussion forum is not what its purpose is. What is said in the thread about the issue concerned is what is important – NOT who may be saying it or how one poster may judge another's worth. The most effective judgement of a contribution that you may not approve of - is to ignore it.

Personal messages are the correct medium for any personal exchanges and not for inflicting on the rest of our forum.

It has taken a long time for some to accept that the only postings they have any real control over - is their own. But some have finally grasped this concept but have not been too successful in convincing others. I may not agree with all of the following but - for I have never been a problem on our forum - but some of it is spot-on.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat censorship - a proposal
From: Big Mick - PM
Date: 02 Apr 05 - 08:31 PM

The alteration it needs must occur in the minds of the folks that respond to this stuff. Roger is entitled to his opinion, and in virtually every posters response they have indicated they are tired of his restating the same thing over and over; they are tired of him twisting quotes to serve himself; they go on and on about how he goes on and on. Do you folks learn anything? Who is worse, Roger or you? The question to Roger about who is "we" has been asked over and over.

Roger isn't the problem anymore. Those that feed him are.