Don't try to change other people's opinions. Make your points and others will make theirs.

I am not sure I expect to change other peoples's opinions - I am prepared to change mine if I am presented with a reasoned view but not when presented with abuse, bullying, personal judgements and all other 'fun' tactics that are current to try and prevent open discussion. As mostly the point is to discuss and try and encourage discussion on things that a few others would rather prefer were not openly discussed on our forum at all.

I feel the only sensible way to change anyone's opinion (if that is the object) is to simply try and present the evidence that any reasoned opinion should be based on. For many opinions appear to be held and strongly expressed, despite the rather clear evidence that is provided. But that is their choice to accept the evidence or not. It is perhaps not their choice to try and prevent others from seeing the evidence and making their own choices?

The nature of our forum is such that many posters do not even read the previous posts in a thread - let alone read previous threads on similar subjects. So in order to present the evidence to as many posters as possible - it is ofen necessary to re-refer to things that regular contributors may find boring. But no one is being forced to open or read anything in any thread. This is a choice that few seem to even recognise is open to them - let alone for them to actually make that choice.

Perhaps it is this choice that should be encouraged - rather than encouraging posters to think they have some right to judge the worth of their fellow invited guests and to prevent others from posting what they choose?