I shouldn't do this, but every now & then a slightly different point strike me.

If you really fell you shouldn't do something - you wouldn't do it. But just like I am trying to do - all you are doing is posting your views to a discussion forum set-up by Max for that purpose. Who do you feel you have to excuse yourself to for doing this? The baying mob?

I am not claiming that by this simple act you are: Attacking, Crowding-out, Abusing, Dominating, Violating, Hijacking or any of the emotive judgements that are encouraged to be made to describe the simple act of me posting my views to our forum.

But, they're NOT all equal. They start equal; that is, with equal privileges- just like citizens of a country. Then, if they do things that violate the standards (rules, laws, etc.), they 'may' be be treated as special cases and have some of those privileges restricted or revoked.

Piffle

Bill - although it may not work all that well in practice - you are lucky enough to live in country that is founded on the princple of equality.

When the behaviour of all is expected to follow whatever 'rules' are in place - then there can be some jusfication for imposing some sanctions upon those who are seen (and usually proved in court) to have broken those 'rules'.

Those who would feel qualified to impose their judgement upon me and other posters must be always seen to be acting impartially.

It is quite simple - if anyone is seen to indulge in and encourge by example the posting of abusive personal judgements and to be seen to ignore this when it is aimed at certain easy targets - their judgements will have no credibilty.

Bill - I suspect you will tell us that we can have a fair sporting contest of football when the referees are seen to not only to choose to partipate as players, but to send some players off for bad conduct, ignore others, and indulge themselves in this bad conduct? And who halfway through, then decide to change the rules in order to get all the participants to play rugby instead. And to do this with a bag over their heads in order to protect their identity?

All I have tried to do is to post and point out that you cannot keep on pretending that such a thing is a fair sporting contest.