Think of a dog. It is happy and loved and waving it's tail. Outside this is wonderful. Inside, where the delicate china is kept, it is not wonderful. The dog is never the one who picks up the pieces. Eventually, if the dog is going to be allowed in the living room, the delicate china will be packed away and only the more robust objects left out.

I am NOT going to tell anyone what they should or should not post. I may point it out when I feel that others have been rude, if it has upset me and if I think it will be useful to do so, because I think we all benefit from civility. I will also, as one of the quieter people, point out that the louder, more exuberant, center-stagers take up a lot of space and often fail to note the subtler behaviours of those who are less exuberant and forthright. This is the way it always has been, and likely always will be, in any group of people. Standing in the middle of a room and proclaiming that "Anyone who wants to talk can talk over me," is not the same as sitting down, quietly listening, and giving people space in which to talk. Largely it seems to be a matter of culture and temperament. The ones who don't mind speaking out can't understand why others aren't speaking up and the quieter ones can't understand why the others won't shut up for long enough to let them get their say in.

Generally I'm quieter about these issues but over the last couple of days I've noticed people saying, or trying to say, some of the things that I've been thinking. I am trying to articulate these things in a way which will not hurt, I'm sorry if I do hurt others in the process. It is an issue though that has come up over and over again and there are people who are feeling very hurt over it. Lets face it, the people that wanted BS have won the argument, there is a lot of BS on the forum. Those in favor of BS can afford to be magnanimous towards those who aren't and avoid rubbing their noses in it.