It would appear that NF has shot himself in the knees....he has higher ambitions than most.
On one hand he wants to be taken seriously and engaged on an intellectual level.
While admitting not being educated in areas yet he chooses to discuss.
Education takes one so far but research and objectivity does the rest.
Sadly his comments are overwhelmed by overly simplistic, tired old OTT sloganeering. This potentially displays a lack of understanding of the realities.

It is one thing to voice an unsubstantiated opinion but to be taken seriously that opinion must display at least some understanding of the complexities involve if to avoid being dismissed as irrelevant.
When some one who obviously has a better understanding of the topic offers some missing insight it is treated as a threat. Then reverts back to the tired old tactic "if you're out of your depth obfuscate with senseless attacks" rather than admit perhaps ignorance or fault.

His apparent definitions of democracy and 'right to freedom of speech are devoid of any societal context. Perhaps he should read a little wider and deeper than the daily Murdoch and the like.

The reality of life in a 'democratic' society has a different meaning to the esoteric notion of democracy.
" If the solution is really simple it would have been done already "

Foxy might help by explaining why I need apologise about playing with a pen name.
Good God, half your colleagues keep offering hints that (they wish)I should get out of the kitchen ‘cos I can’t handle the heat – then when I parse that brief comment from pelican I find that essentially she’s saying she doesn’t intend to say anything – and this about freedom of speech.

I’m reasonably aware that the good Pelican was saying that those who have nothing to contribute to a thread should stay out of a topic above their head.
I might also interpret that to mean she was subtly reprimanding those doing the ‘flaming’.
If so she should have said so without being obscure.
By the way, earlier in her career she wasn’t being so oblique.

I understand by your reprimand that the bird is actually a woman.
If she doesn’t want to speak about freedom of speech then maybe she doesn’t agree with that concept.
Or maybe she doesn’t want to say that she believes its men who shouldn’t speak freely.
I’d like to hear from Pelican herself.

Others here appear upset with my words, claiming they can’t understand them.
To make that plain I’d put the blame for that shortfall directly on the education system; illustrated by how pellucid is the authorship of UOG.
Brilliantly lurking between his lines is a well honed intellect.

Hmmm! Perhaps Pelican’s got a point?

Foxy – I’ve read some of your work in other articles but cannot understand why you only see injustice in other countries.
You finished, above, with a fair precis about freedom of speech.
I happen to believe it is being eroded here, alongside our liberties, in Oz., and especially in Qld..
I was hoping that someone might speak out about that or similar issues.
After all, Pelican’s illustrious career here once included concerns about whistleblowing, a.k.a. freedom of speech

I’d go so far as to suggest the ‘most hard bitten’ ethnic group in Oz. is the WASP (white anglo-saxon protestant).
But of course, nobody wants to hear that.

Play all you wish NM - I didn't take offence.

I must admit to being a bit confused by your intentions in this thread and did not expect such a long post to my very short response.

There was no hidden meaning, my earlier statements are as they stand. Correct me if I am wrong NM but I had the feeling you were castigating people merely because you did not get enough responses in your other topics.

Wishing not to speak about something does not imply a lack of belief. I don't particularly want to discuss pregnancy or the efficacy of various washing machines but I still believe in them.

Sometimes people get sick of seeing the same old posters repeating things they have said before such as your expert searching skills in relation to my previous comments on whistleblowing. Maybe one day I will write a book.

Then again am I just falling for your bait? Maybe I am - but then again pelicans do.

ANF - you need to learn to comprehend what others say to you.

You'd be more than welcome at my local if you learnt some basic manners - and/or took your medication.

Meanwhile, feel free to babble away at yourself. Bye.

I meant ANF in my earlier post not NM as I mistyped. Thought I better clear that up.

Dear Non-Farmer,

I don't only see injustice in other countries.
You'd have to scrawl through quite a bit of
my posts to see that your statement is not
accurate. You've probably
only scrawled through the latest ones that
dealt with overseas issues.

We've covered a wide variety of topics of this
Forum. Ranging from a whole gamut of issues -
political, social, religious, you name it -
chances are we've covered it.

And - injustice exists in every society.
Including this country.
Humans aren't always capable of making
good judgements. They often don't have the
ability, experience, training or wisdom.
Or are influenced by faulty reasoning, lack
of facts, or prejudices.

However, having said that, I admit that I
tend to look for the good in people - I still
believe that most people are basically decent.
And I love this country very much and am proud
to call it home. So I guess that does make
me somewhat biased. I've lived overseas, and
given a choice, I still prefer this country to
any other.