You’re funny Grim. I think we are mostly functional.

Oh and then the foster kids who seem to function quite well until placed back within a disfunctioning environment. Okay that might not be a real word. There is another completely dysfunctional older one here but it is what I would describe as a self dysfunctioning without real impact on the majority. Hopefully and eventually given time we will have an impact on them.

[DoCS rant begins]
I had a couple of kids for a couple years, good as gold. 6 months after leaving my care to be placed with other foster parents and they have ADHD and on drugs. No one cares, I’m spewing as usual. Apparently where I got my information from is more important than the actual information or not having young kids on unnecessary mind altering meds.
[DoCS rant ends]

But “dysfunctional” would be in the perception? We might all be complete wackjobs back here and just haven’t figured it out yet. Professional shrinkage types have commented over the years that the way we interact with the little kids by making fun of everything, including them, seems to have a positive influence on behavior. It’s not an applied tactic; we think most stuff they do is worth laughing at.

Hubby is on a business trip soon for a few days – you’ll know it, I’ll be online all wingey and needy.

Grim wrote: One of, if not the main, reason I come here, is because my natural family is not the slightest bit interested in the kind of debates we have here.

Dear Grim,

I have a natural family, also. However, the most difficult, in my estimation, kind of individuals who post to OLO are those who imagine they have a supernatural family.

Reading through the comments, I can identify with many of the reasons given for inhabiting OLO.

For me, it's very much about the exchange of ideas. My children have left home and hubby, bless him, is not really a chatty talk-it-through type person. He's quite happy in his spare time to sit passively in front of the television set, which is not something I want to do for any length of time, so OLO really suits me. It gives me an easily accessible platform to discuss the issues of the day with like-minded people.

I enjoy the challenge of presenting a point of view inside a tight word limit. I also enjoy the familiarity of coming up against the same posters, and the cut-and-thrust aspect of having your opinions challenged and the ongoing process of having to justify and clarify your position. There are many posters here who really make the site for me, and some in particular whose world view and life's pathway is so similar to my own that I feel a real affinity with them. I won't name them but they know who they are.

I can find OLO addictive and can find myself spending too much time on it. Hubby has complained at times at the amount of time I spend here, which is part of the reason I've taken a break from it. It's nice to be back and I'm sure I'll continue to dip in and out for as long as I have access to a computer. It was a lovely little buzz to come back and see my name mentioned on the first thread I happened to read. Thank you Pelican and Fractelle. This is a favourite type of thread for me - one that gives another small glimpse into the life of the person behind the comment.

And Col, getting married - again I think. Well, we can only hope this new woman can bring about a softening and a humility of attitude that so far no-one else has managed to achieve. A tall order I know but I guess it's possible.

Dear PP and David f. My apologies; unlike Bronwyn every time I try to be brief, I screw it up.
By 'dysfunctional family' I was referring to all the posters at OLO. Like Fractelle, I have my favourite 'Aunties' and 'Uncles' ( almost a Koori relationship) and cousins; those I learn from, those I enjoy sparring with; and there's those whose chain I can't resist pulling...
Coming here reminds very much of Xmas get togethers with my extended (natural) family.
They're predominantly Irish, by the way; I don't know if that's relevant...
David, I hope you're still 'natural'. If you happen to pass away, I trust you will let us know?

here is yet another reason..i come and eludicate here..so you can masticaste with the issue's

Seven arrests in suspected £38m carbon credit fraud
##<<didnt take long...lol...but note its MAJOR FRAUD...7 people SCAMMED 38 BILLion...not million...plus..5 billion EACH>>

Seven people have been arrested and 27 addresses raided over an suspected £38m fraud involving the trade of carbon credits to avoid paying value-added tax (VAT).

By Rowena Mason
Published: 7:36PM BST 19 Aug 2009

Officers from HM Revenue & Customs searched both residential properties and offices in both Gravesend and London targeting an alleged network of organised crime.

Members are believed to have been trading large volumes of high-value carbon credits from overseas sources free of VAT.

Tax investigators believe these may then have been sold on to businesses in the UK charging VAT that is never paid to the authorities.

Officers said further arrests are likely, adding that the proceeds of this alleged crime have been "used to finance lavish lifestyles and the purchase of prestige vehicles".

The Treasury removed VAT from carbon credits on July 31 as a temporary measure until the European Union works out a common policy to tackle fraudsters.

The tax dodge appears to be a variation of "carousel" VAT fraud. Carousel fraud, also known as "missing trader" fraud, typically involves goods such as mobile phones and computer chips imported VAT-free from EU member states. These are then sold in the UK, including a VAT charge, but the trader then going missing without paying the taxman.

Companies now need permits to emit carbon dioxide as part of the global fight against climate change and polluters are granted a certain number of emissions allowances that can be traded.

"The Government took decisive action ...to prevent this type of fraud recurring ...by zero rating carbon credits for VAT,"..said Les Beaumont,..deputy director of criminal investigation for HMRC.

<<<38 billion of vat?...avoided were talking trillions...if 38 billion is only some vat replacement...check the loop holes its either compulsory for all...or its not compulsory for anyone...ps its unconstitutional to make anything but gold/silver coin legal/tender

Reading the posts between my last and this has bought some insight into why I post.
I have been hungry to learn, funny but true from the day I finally left school, age 12 years ten months.
And I daily need my fix, I learn much here, start my day reading on line news papers, most of them from my state and the national one.
I doubt it is wrong but circumstances see more and more of us living on our own,this site is part family for us.
I strongly believe we would be better humans if we understood issues better.
I can not ever explain why my interest in education came after fighting it every second of every day I had to attend.
But as I can never change that past I would like my tomb stone if it can not say union forever or united we bargain divided we beg.
It could say .
While I lived I learned.