"I have found there are people on this forum whose wisdom I appreciate, and whose company I'm honoured to be in. I've learnt stuff by being here. . . ."

Smokey got that right! One of the undoubtedly unintended benefits of someone like David blurting the kind of blather he does is the, rather that calling out the local bullies to savage the village idiot (as one or two people here seem to think as they gaze down from their lofty positions on high), it often stimulates very interesting and informative discussions by way of knowledgeable people stepping in to refute the nonsense. These little broo-ha-has tend to stimulate a good exchange of ideas, they often cause us to re-examine some of our own assumptions, and everyone winds up learning.

Except, generally, for the stumblebum who uttered the claptrap in the first place and insists on digging his heels in despite the tsunami of good information from which he could learn.

In addition, I have met some people here on-line who seem like really interesting and knowledgeable folks (it helps to get to know someone if they are vigorously expressing their beliefs and opinions), and I hope to encounter them again on other threads.

So for those who like to feel superior and sit back and go "Tsk tsk," I'd say open your eyes (and minds) and take another look.

Don Firth