[CarylB]

Guppie, who has imo no need whatsoever to apologise for her eloquent post, wrote:

But I see what's going on and I don't like it. And I DO NOT want to be part of the silent crowd ..... But in fact, each member deserves respect.

Not being prepared to be part of the silent crowd Guppie is what makes you the person you are, and as such one who is esteemed and valued in this forum by many of us :)

Sin had just posted:

..... I don't expect comformity or unity on all issues, but I do expect people to have respect and be able to put accross their point without being objectionable or personally insulting ....

I know something of what Sin and her family have been going through. Sadly many of us will know a family who number a child who is being bullied. As an adult I don't lose sleep over abuse hurled at me on the internet .. as Mouse has said, those who indulge in this just expose themselves for what they are. However, Sin's point about what we should be able to expect in terms of behaviour from adults, and her despair at coming to a forum she enjoys, and seeing people get away with behaviour and comments which by her standards are appalling ... this is (to quote a line from Life is a Lemon) what this is all about. In a world where some adults model abusive and bullying behaviour without reproach, some children will continue to see it as acceptable and bully their peers who are less able to shrug it off.

Meat was bullied at school. Meat clearly has a special place in his heart for children. The scars of bullying persist long after one has left childhood. We have seen how Meat reacts to what he described as "putdowns" .. they hurt him still, just as they hurt most of those they are levelled at, for let's make no mistake .. such comments are generally intended to ridicule and hurt those they are aimed at. I don't believe he would find abusive bullying behaviour acceptable in this forum, for let's be clear .. the kind of insulting comments we have been talking about here go way beyond the bounds of what could ever be considered humorous, teasing, or in any way acceptable in a society which holds any respect for the feelings of others.

Going back to Guppie's point about not being prepared to be part of the silent crowd, remember the maxim
"All that is required for evil to flourish is for good people to stand by and do nothing" ?

Some in this forum did not stand by yesterday, and I salute each one of them. And it is only when each and every one of us takes such a stand, wherever we are and whenever we see abusive bullying taking place, that we can send a clear and consistent message that this is not to be tolerated, that it is not acceptable, and perhaps gradually there will be fewer children subjected to this and their lives scarred and damaged. Because make no mistake, when verbal abuse is hurled at children it is indeed evil, and I don't believe I need add the "imo" rider to this statement, not in a world I want to inhabit.