I do think it hilarious that someone starts a thread wanting everybody to go in the garden and pick flowers holding hands, but then has a pop at "those bastards over there."

You mentioned Goofball and Wacko. Don't forget some of the others. Bridge for instance rather likes the soubriquet "Rumpole of the Volvo" and "M'Unlearned Friend" and I take "Mither" when coming from him. We also disagree on many points. But you know what? not a problem. Also, Jack the Sailor and I appear to have a loose ceasefire going. I haven't altered my stance and he cannot alter his, (sorry, couldn't help it..) but you are right when saying that name calling between two people is tedious to others.

But it isn't always aimed at others. I only hold one person in contempt. Sorry, let me qualify that. I only know of one person whose views I hold in contempt.

if there is a difference between culture here, and I doubt there really is, then both sides need to give slack, not just one. I don't expect our cousins to understand piss taking and disguised irony, and I can't aways take a post at full face value. This is an international forum, let's not forget. This isn't an American sit com where there has to be the moral at the end. It can also be British farce where someone ends up with egg on their face, and everybody else pointing and laughing.

Hey Michael! I hear what you are saying about bloody swearing, but you know what? Brevity is the soul of wit. You can either post paragraph after paragraph to get someone to see what you think of what they said, or you can sum it up with "fuck off."

Me? I find the latter cathartic at times, and lack of ambiguity is sometimes needed around here...