*daylia* abd Amos

I am agreement with you. I find this site to be a source of knowledge and amusement on almost a daily basis. I have made some very good friends as a result of the Mudcat and, my own case, my life has changed completely, for the better, purely as a result of my posting on this site.

There are posters who irritate me and a number with whose views I do not agree. If I feel strongly enough about a subject I will state my case on a thread but I've learned from experience that, for me, it is better to totally ignore any unwarranted personal attacks that result from those posts. I would rather concentrate on those people who, whilst maybe not agreeing with my point of view, are prepared to allow that we cannot always be in total accord on any particular subject. There are times when we have to agree to disagree and then walk away from a topic which might otherwise lead to arguments and bad feelings.

Discussion should be a means of exploring different views on any given subject and examining your own take on it. It is possible that, by listening to what the other person has to say, you might find that you have to moderate your own view. On the other hand it might just confirm that your own view is, to you, the right one. However, just as you might not be willing to change your view you should not expect that other people will change either. Why take that as an insult, as seems to be the case sometimes on this site? It just means that, as a result of different life experiences, the other person has a different perspective on a topic.

If another poster cannot accept that then the best thing is to walk away. Accept that you will never agree on that particular subject. There will probably be other areas in which you are in complete accord. That you do not agree is not the end of the world. Just stay away from that subject with that person.

To be honest, some threads can be interesting to read in the beginning but start disintegrating because no-one is prepared to back down from an entrenched position and the attacks start getting personal. That's when I stop reading the things.

Anyway - that's my two pence worth, for what it's worth.