Continued:

BRENDAN TERRY, COACH: As a coach there are more negatives than positives, but the positives, when they come around - and Annie has been a positive - are just huge, and they engrave themselves into you and you remember them forever. And they're the things that keep you going.

BEV GARTON, MOTHER: I really, really admire her. I've never known anyone with such courage as my daughter. She could so easily just curl up and say, "I have this illness, I can't do anything." But look - she's out there doing every little bit that she can.

END
My daughter is mentally ill and I know a fair few people who have mental illness. My daughter has more sense and determination than you are showing - have a rethink and grow up.

Heh rancitus [or is that rats arse]: I never rubbished anyone with a mental disorder and you should be ashamed of your big fat libelous, stinking, foul lie that I did.We had Heather, a downs syndrome girl, a wonderful caring, loving girl. How dare you you say what you did - you do have serious problem. Disgusted, numbat

Ranc...and Numbat...

guys.. it seems a lot or most of us are bleeding in one way or another.
Sometimes in the passion of debate, we do say things (like me) that we later regret..

Suffice to say that my heart goes out to both of you on the issue of your daughters. Its moments like that, when all the points scoring seems so futile and meaningless, and underlines the importance of all of us supporting each other in our own lives and directions.

I've taken a considerable interest in Martial Arts of late, (previously did some boxing) and I've been quite amazed at how much I actually can do at this age of 57. I do question how that fits with my relationship with Christ, and a life meant to reflect His word.

I have 3 children and while none of them have turned out to fit 'my' dream for offspring, but they each have something special to give, and I want them to always condsider how to build others up rather than tear them down.

Dave's teaching boxing may not be our cuppatea, but on balance, I'm sure it does good.

Perhaps we need a bit more give and take ? cheers

Numbat: you said:

“Remember it's the little blue pills and do not take more than the recommended dosage or you may write another rubbishy puerile letter.
Boxing is for mentally retarded Neanderthals (sic) … “

You clearly suggested that Rancitas was mentally ill (not that it should matter). I think it was said with malicious intent. If this is not so, then explain what you did mean and what your intent was. When people attempt to insult others that they disagree with in this way they indirectly insult people like Anne Garton and undermine their efforts to fight the stigma associated with mental illness.

You also wrongly associated mental capacity with the choices people make, especially when you disagree.

Boxers are people who can make up their own minds. They usually know the pros and cons of the sport . There are PYC all over this country that have martial arts classes. Those police aren’t stupid. And neither are mentally ill people.

Read your last post. It’s an oxymoron that confirms you’re not thinking clearly:

“Heh rancitus [or is that rats arse]: I never rubbished anyone with a mental disorder and you should be ashamed of your big fat libelous, stinking, foul lie that I did. We had Heather, a downs syndrome girl, a wonderful caring, loving girl. How dare you say what you did - you do have serious problem. Disgusted, numbat “

The first thing a mentally ill person learns when they go to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is to stick to the problem /issue. You are the one who has resorted to insulting other’s mental capacity and childlike name calling. It is a bit like hitting below the belt.

I am proud of my post and you did rubbish the mentally ill with your blue -pills jibe.

rancitus:Whatever I meant to say you perceived that I insulted and demeaned you for that I apologise. Furthermore I had no right to call you what I did again please accept my deepest apologies.
The above has not changed my views on boxing and I think lesser men fight and even lesser enjoy seeing a bloke being bloodied, beaten and humiliated.
Yes I did box when I was a boy, it was at the local Police boys club. Yes I did win and even then for me to "win?" I had to beat and humiliate another boy. So since then I have eschewed boxing yet again I was an army Sergeant and learned un-armed combat and bayonet fighting. That seemed different as I was training to kill my countries enemies. Yet I now see it was perhaps not at all different, yet if I were young enough I would be a part of our nation's armed forces. Maybe I am a poor twisted wrinkly, but I am what I am for better or for worse. numbat

continued
I don’t doubt for one second that Heather was a wonderful, caring and loving girl. You were clearly trying to imply that I had said something to the contrary.. I didn’t - and I haven’t said anything that could be remotely connected to her condition. I did not even know you had a daughter. There was no mention of her anywhere in my posts.

I posted the Anne story to enlighten posters about mental illness. You threw up the mental illness thing to discredit my views rather than stick to the issue. I used your seemingly callous disregard for the mentally ill to show people how the stigmatising of mentally ill happens in society.

You say Rancitas has a “serious problem” because of his concerns. You have given no valid reasons and no logical response to prove that - so it remains a petty and miserable personal attack.

That I am a “rat arse” or “stink[ing]” as you say may be true but those insults have nothing to do with the issue. How does that and the little bill pills jibe relate to the issue?

There was nothing libellous in my post at all and I stand firm. To be frank I don’t even know what you are upset about. Is it that I claimed a mentally ill person had more sense than you? Check out these famous mentally ill folk.

http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Helpline1&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=4858

Humbling.

I was just about to post this when read Numbat's post. So Numbat don't take it as a rejection of your post. I value your last insightful and experienced-based post. I bet every wrinkle has a story to tell.

I would like you to think about what upset you. I think it was that with your knowledge and experiences you felt no one was respecting your opinion. You have a daughter who had Downs Syndrome and even the slightest hint that you disrespect afflicted people hurt. If that's it - any upset was not intended and I too apologise. If I am wrong, we can try to resolve it or agree to disagree. WEFIGHTBLACKDOG