The thing is Guppie, I have always expressed my views clearly and courteously, only taking issue with people who snipe at Meat. I was pissed when I was accused of deceiving people, and when a card intended for my mailing list only was published on the web and all in this forum invited to see and disapprove of it. I was attacked for defending myself. I have been subjected to a campaign of name-calling by a small group here, which I have borne with patience and humour, but when it became too much and I raised the issue, I find my self now being accused of being patronising, holier than thou, asserting that I am more intelligent than the rest of you, bullying and terrorising people, and told I might want to consider taking a holiday from the forum.
The fact that I have never terrorised anybody here, that I have never claimed to have superior intelligence, have not said many of the things I have been accused of saying, seems neither here nor there. When I point out I have not said something this is ignored, and another tack is taken. Others may speak plainly, may say the same as I do. This is accepted without demur. That people seem ready to say that name-calling is unreasonable behaviour has imo been marred by some mounting a counter attack claiming that I bully and terrorise people. Not to put too fine a point on it that's balls.
As to respect, I approach people with an open mind. To disagree with someone is not to disrespect them, and I would never say "With the greatest respect .." and then go on to say the person was talking nonsense. But people can lose my respect. They do this when they hurl abuse; they do this when they make public attacks on me; they do this when they make false accusations about me to colleagues/friends; they do this when they make wild assertions, and when I point out these are not so ignore what I have said, and throw in another set for good measure.
The one thing which is clear is that for some people here I will be ever at fault. So be it. Let them huff and puff, exaggerate and stray from the truth. I'm done with them. I shall not rise to the bait, but will continue to post and discuss things with the many people here who are able to conduct conversation without sniping or waging some bizarre vendetta, and who have my respect.
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