Pericles

I have just caught up with this thread.

Laughed out loud when I read your post.

Custard Apples - tropical fruit; very juicy, but too cloyingly sweet for my tastes, I prefer (among tropical fruit) Mangos, Pineapples - zesty, tangy fruit for me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custard-apple

Reading through all these comments, some warm and heart-felt, others redolent of the bitterness within the author.

Sometimes I feel OLO isn't welcoming, but mostly I do. I didn't have to return after I recovered but I did because there are many people I missed:

Some people I often disagree with like Hasbeen, or R0bert, but are worth reading because they have good hearts (something that can only be ascertained over time).

Many others; Pelican, Foxy, Pynchme, CJ Morgan, Examinator, Davidf, Belly, King Hazza; too many good people to mention as I would probably forget someone.

I won't be reticent, I believe that this forum would be pleasanter without the likes of Antiseptic or Formersnag - but then they are so extreme only other extremists would take them seriously - but I do enjoy cutting them down to size sometimes. Houellie, self-admittedly, likes to take the piss, so that if he does write something of worth, I'll probably miss it.

___________________________________________

Finally, I don't believe that women should receive any special treatment above that offered to men. Women have been treated like hot-house-flowers instead of human beings for far too long. Just a fair go is all that I'd ask for anyone - male or female.

*When someone attaches unkindness to criticism,
they're angry.
Angry people need to criticize as an outlet
for their anger. That's why we can reject
unkind criticism because unkind criticism is
never part of a meaningful critique. It's
purpose is not to teach, or help, its purpose
is to punish.*

Foxy, sorry but that is basically rubbish. I know
that you are a delicate little petal, but some people
simply say things as they see them, some sensitive types
take it to heart. Its also false, just like when mommy
says "it will all be better in the morning".

Fact is, it may well not be, the kid might well be dead.
That is the reality, which so many don't want to deal with.

This very issue has just been discussed on Bloomberg, in
relation to the Toyota saga, where it took a whole lot of
people dying, before the company woke up to reality.
Japanese culture is all about saving face, so people only
say nice things. Telling the boss that he might have screwed
up would be unkind, so stuff is covered up. Now they have
to face a much much bigger mess.

That has nothing to do with hatred at all, just facing reality,
or closing your eyes and wishing reality would go away, which
is a typical emotional response, not a rational one.

Dear Yabby,

Let me explain ...
(drum roll please).

I'm not talking about people expressing an opinion.
I'm talking about insulting behaviour.

What I am talking about is personal attacks,
racial, ethnic or religious hate words, or the use
of terms that are used to deliberately
cause offense. I'm sure that you're aware of what
these are.

However, as I've stated previously, constructive
debating is an art. And not everyone can be good
at it. That's to be expected.

However, it's only a small minority
of people on this Forum that deliberately use personal
attacks on posters that they view as "opponents."
Most posters realize that discussions aren't supposed
to be an all out or nothing battle. And most people
can get their views across without having to insult.

As Severin/Fractelle said, - most of us don't want
or expect any "special treatment," simply a "fair go!"
It's best to remember that there are people out there
reading what you're posting - you're not talking to a
blank screen. There is an etiquette that should be
observed in posting - we're not ferals. - We're supposedly
intelligent, human beings, taking part in social and
political discussions.

*There is an etiquette that should be
observed in posting*

But Foxy, there is a huge difference in peoples opinions,
in terms of what that etiquette should be and what people
find insulting or offensive.

So my point it, people might write in ways which does not
suit your etiquette, that does not mean that they are
angry, as you claimed.

I am sure that I have offended many others on OLO, but they
would be offended by things that I would not even dream of
as being offensive.

I simply try to see life as it is, no rosy coloured glasses.

I'll give you an example. I commonly mention that when we
die, we'll land up looking not much different to that sheep
that died in the corner of the paddock, a bag of bones and
dust. I mentioned this as a kind of joke at a supermarket
checkout recently and it turns out the bloke was very religious
and taken aback by this. He knew he was going to heaven and
found my notion quite offensive it seems!

So my point is, life is about perspectives and that your
point, about anger being the driving force, would commonly
be wrong. Thats all.

Dear Yabby,

Deliberate personal insults - are offensive.
I'm not talking about terms that can be
interpreted differently by different readers.

When someone deliberately tries to provoke
with comments like:

"Have you stopped beating your wife?"

They're not trying to present a "different
perspective."

And that's what I'm talking about.

Deliberate insults!

I can't make it any clearer for you.

Houellebecq, <" 'Suzie, I recommend you HTFU.'
That's bully talk. Suze can relate any way she wants."

'Septic was certainly looking to bully me there alright, but it is the only way he has ever been able to relate to women I would imagine.

Doesn't really bother me. Certainly not the worst he has offered.

'Septic, right back at you little man