Hey Doc my brother owns Manly he got involved when Askin was number one fan.
Votes conservative in An ALP family but the robust debates make it all worth while.
I am a trained sufferer being a Dragons follower.
OK we will never get that perfect world here but there is a difference between bullying, we have a few, and just banter.
I will change nothing in my style some haunt others just playing verbal tennis ,mostly with a racket with no strings but are intent on the target not the thread.
Lets face it the forum is ok we keep coming back and if one is ill we unite why change?

I'm sure I'm as guilty as anyone else, and I unreservedly apologise to anyone I've personally slighted in a pique.

But I know what you mean, Foxy. I like posters who are bolshie and smart-alec-y, but some types get positively brutal. I do *try* not to lay into anyone on a personal level, especially people I haven't had much to do with on the forum. But then there are a few people I guess I feel I *know* well enough to launch into unflattering speculations about their underlying motives.

Sorry Boazy.

On the other hand, there are many posters whose views I value and have influenced mine. Romany, CJ, R0bert, TRTL, Bronwyn, Fractelle, Pelican, and Seeker, inter alia.

I've certainly copped my fair share of abuse. On occasion, it's upset me. But at the end of the day, one must remember that the other people reading the thread are cluey enough to make their own decisions based on the arguments afore them rather than the fact that another poster has called you "ignorant" or your post "insulting or offensive" or perhaps an "exercise in deception" (a selection of flattery recently directed my way).

What bugs me most is when people extropate from things you've said, generally to discredit your view. For example, in a recent thread about refos I pointed out that the men currently facing charges of terrorism in Melbourne do not have refugee status in Australia. Which they don't. But this caused another poster to suggest I sympathised with them. Then, of course, as you say you're a feminist, there are some people who believe:
1. you hate men
2. you believe women are victims
3. you believe all men are violent and/or all sex is rape
4. you believe men are never discriminated against
5. & etc ad nauseum.

That gets on my goat.

But I don't know. Perhaps my very post is just another example of the age old love story, the one where the pot and the kettle make beautiful love together, screaming out flattering descriptions of each other's skin tone in ecstasy.

Dear Vanilla,

Have I told you lately?

You're Terrific!

Vanilla, I’m afraid I have to object to my placement on that list before someone else does. Inclusion with those OLO luminaries is not only undeserved, but has the potential to cause me performance anxiety (how can I ever again feel comfortable posting crap after such an accolade?). Or worse, wake up some morning as a feminist. This new perspective compels me to refrain from loving you.

Dear Foxy, this is just the way we are. Love us anyway.

Tough luck Seeker. You're in our gang now.

Once again, Thanks To You One and All for your posts.

I appreciate your comments and for opening up my eyes to quite a few things that I hope will make me a better poster in future threads.

Much appreciated.