Having had a week away from home, I'm astonished at the way some posters have started to behave. This site seems suddenly to be full of vitriol.
Now I don't pretend to be every one's favourite pussy cat, and I will always be as outspoken as I choose to be, but I do not attack people personally, I only attack what they believe if I am convinced that their beliefs are anti-social or detrimental. I don't attack the person propagating that belief.
Now we have a situation arise where some of our stronger ladies are being maligned as uncaring and bigoted. Worse, some of these personal attacks are followed up by: "I don't expect that you will bother to reply", "I know what you will say" or some other comment that is specifically designed to restrict the accusee's reply. A real WT type of gagging!
I'm not so naive as to expect everyone to be full of sweetness and light, I've come across some pretty heavy criticism myself (including being labelled a heartless "curd") - whatever that is - and I do enjoy some cut and thrust in our dialogues, but I just gotta say, we can't go on with the personal insults that are happening right now.
Perhaps the insulters should stop a moment and realise that every time they insult someone, they alienate themselves from the dozens of people who hold the insulted one in high regard.
I had to say all that!
Englishman.