SM, the trouble with some people is they are consumed by their "own self importance", "legends in their own lunchtime". Your posts exude a certain air of superiority about them. You are defiantly a member of the elite, one of that young conservative brigade who see themselves as the next generation of the born to rule class. I imagine you to be one of those youngish yuppie types who sees themselves as a "cut above" most of their contemporary's.
The quality and content of your posts, or mine for that matter, are judged by others, if they wish to do so, and certainly not by you alone. Your attempt to heap scorn upon me, by the pretense of playing the highbrow English School teacher with the comment;
"your plethora of blunders in other posts from poor comprehension of posts and links, your shoddy spelling and grammar, and complete lack of understanding of any subject I would be reluctant to even classify you as functionally literate." You think that this will prod a similar retaliatory response from me, it wont. What is self evident in your posts, despite the very good spelling and grammar, is your general lack of what could be termed "life's experiences" something, hopefully you will gain with time. There is another poster on here who's spelling and grammar to you would be inexcusable, their morphology would be totally lacking. But because of the value of their life's experience their posts are of infinitely more value than those of a pup such as yourself. What you gain with context, you sadly lose with content.
Many of your responses fail to grasp the basic fact, which is blatantly obvious, that I've been taking the piss out of you, I put that down to your inexpedience. My advice is, don't take yourself so serious, and chill out my boy, sometimes as my partner will say "just go with the flow". Good luck SM and remember, when it comes to the insults I have been insulted by the best of em', these days I'm an armadillo.

Paul,

If your method of "taking the piss" involved pretending to be an idiot, then you nailed it. I was totally convinced.

Your deductions of me are more than a little off. I am in my 50s and an engineer that works for a living that often involves getting my hands dirty. I get paid well more than average because I am smart and work hard.

I have no desire to "rule" or even climb the corporate ladder, however, I object to be governed by idiots, no matter how well intentioned they are, and my assessment of the greens are exactly that. Labor is so corrupt that they are not even well intentioned.

Hi SM, these days we may be on opposite side of the political divide but it does seem we have some things in common. I too am a qualified engineer, having worked now, some 40 odd years, more than 30 at engineering. I started my working life as an apprentice fitter and turner, after 2 years I moved on to mechanical draughting finishing my time after a 4 year apprenticeship. At night I studied mechanical engineering and then structural and production engineering after 8 years and a couple of other courses I obtained certificates in all three, with lots of onsite practical experience, working much of that time on site and only short stints in the office.
I must admit I didn't excel at English at school but did well enough passing at level 2 in the HSC. However given other subjects partially, Math’s and Science, along with History and Geography I often topped the class, taking both subject and year prizes at the annual prize giving nights on several occasions.
Heavy industry not being what it once was, after retrenchment I set up my own registered business, eventually employing a couple of people. As a side line I also did "house plans" for council submission, something that proved very consistent and profitable, offering a full range of services. In the 1990's I was offered an engineering job I just couldn't refuse with a large mob and top pay. Kept the business as it was for a while, but could not give it the time it needed, and scaled it down, knocking back work, although I kept the council plans for about 20 years. As I had both a practical and academic side I never had a problem with work. I pride myself in the fact I could talk to tradesman in a boiler suit at his work level, having done it myself, just as easily as I could mix it with the MD at his level.
cont.

cont.
Yes, I tend to play the forum more for amusement than as a serious vehicle for political change in society, a bit of fun. I do however post something of a serious nature now and then, but I will admit I do "pepper" posts at times to enact a reaction, and true to form some people react as hoped.

Shadow Minister while some, not much, of your views on Paul,s attitude to some posts may be right, look at your own.;
A deep bitter bile is seen in not all, but some of your posts.
You do display signs you feel you are not wining the debate, so launch into an unpleasantness that says much, about you not Paul.

ABC should never be silenced on behalf of ANY party.
And for sure as a commercial reward for A billionaire, known for his world wide questionable actions in politics.
History will look on these days in Australia as a march away from middle Australia, a blip in the cultural fair go mate we value so much.
Polling supports my view Abbott has miss read his mandate.

Paul

"In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people,[1] by posting inflammatory,[2] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a forum, chat room, or blog), either accidentally[3][4] or with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[5] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.[6]"

Sound familiar?

P.S. you are far easier to wind up than you realise.

As for your background, I am surprised. Engineers are trained to think logically and deductively and tend to be more conservative favouring sound policy over ideology. As a result I have met only a few that would consider voting labor, and never met one that would vote green.