Dear Belly,

We had better get something straight my friend. My decision to only rarely engage with you is different to why I am keeping Jayb at arm's length. He and Loudmouth took a belligerent approach to Poirot which saw her walk away from the thread. I didn't appreciate it but rather than make a song and dance about it I just cut them loose. No biggie.

You on the other hand have called me among other things a liar, unbalanced, and on a par with the worst Muslim fundamentalist, and that is just on this thread. Each time we engage you ratchet it up further.

Normally I would be on you like a ton of bricks. But here is the truth, I feel sorry for you and have for quite a while. I see in you fears that just shouldn't be there especially after the life you have led. My only hope is that I can resist the path you have taken and retain the ability to see all sides of an issue. Perhaps age will defeat that hope but for now I intend holding on to it with both hands.

Meanwhile for me to respond fully to what you throw at me would just be bullying on my behalf, therefore I choose to mostly refrain.

Quote from Belly, "DiamondPete knows everything".

TRUE.

Dear Danielle,

The execution by the state of any of its citizens is completely abhorrent to me. The toll in Iran deserves our utter condemnation.

Until recently there were nine countries cited by Amnesty International for executing people who had committed their crimes while juveniles. They were the US, Iran, China, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Sudan.

Only two of these did so on a regular basis, the US and Iran. Neither of these are Arab Muslim nations. The US finally abandoned the practice in 2005. The only redeeming feature of the US system was that thanks to the appeal process most of the executions occurred when the victim was in their 20s.

The other two strong reasons for condemning the Iranian government is the treatment of women and minorities in their country.

Hi CSteele,

'Belligerent' approach ? Did anybody call for Poirot to be beheaded ? Or did they merely say something a bit nasty ? And try to get her to stay on-topic ? Or obliquely accuse her of - perhaps intentionally - straying off-topic ? Horrors !

Would an apology help ?

Cheers,

Joe

:)

Poirot If it was I who offended you & the reason you have left the thread I am deeply sorry. Sometimes I do like to push a point when I feel I have a point to push. If I pushed you too far as csteel has said, I apologize.

Csteel the reason you keep me at arm’s length is because I've pinned you down to be a Fanatic Muslim Sympathizer. Your continued silence on the links I gave you confirms that because of that I feel that you agree with the Mufti in England. I also feel that you would like to see Australia as a Muslim Caliphate, whether we like it or not.

Your refusal to answer my questions show that you are afraid you would have to “out” yourself. Tell me I'm wrong.

Actually I am in a quandry as to why no one else will comment on them. Strange that.

Jayb,

You got caught in the crossfire.

Just to explain:

I'm generally not thin-skinned on the forum (as you know) and usually give as good as I get. Interplay between myself and Loudmouth on this thread is only the latest in heated exchanges, and my seemingly unreasonable sensitivity stems from his penchant of recent times to specifically target and goad me whenever he happens upon me in a thread. In fact, it's fairly clear in this thread that was entirely his purpose in engaging me, as in this one, where for no particular reason he refers to me throughout his discourse:
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=5377&page=0#146491

It's been my mistake to respond to his persistent provocation, and clearly it's my responsibility to cease to do that, which is the main reason I chose to leave this thread.

So when Loudmouth laments along the lines of "..Or did they merely say something a bit nasty..." etc, he omits to mention that he has been, over quite a few weeks now, tireless in his "enthusiasm" in my direction. There's a difference between honest engagement and the practice of consistently winding someone up.

No problem - I know what to do : )

csteele,

You're a rare bird. I'm honoured to share a forum with one such as yourself.