AC,

You are entitled to your opinions, of course; and you are not "forced to defend your statements", unless you wish to do so - certainly not from me, anyway.

You in no way "disrespected" me; it's just that things get a bit messy when we get off the subject. I wish more people would start threads rather than latching onto something that might only vaguely match what they want to get across. It takes the sting out of what you wish to say, I believe. I am more interested in what my peers (with a couple of exceptions) have to say than the over-long articles contributed to the main forum. There's often more honesty and common sense from the 'ordinary' folk than there is from professional or academic BS artists.

While I do not agree with you on Israel, there are many of your thoughts and opinions I do agree with.

Hey ttbn,
The thing about starting new threads is you can't just have your opinion and be done with it, you have to 'manage' the thread and respond to commenters that responded to your opening comment, so it seems a little more responsibility when starting threads rather than just responding to others threads.
Also we only see 5 threads in default in the general category, and when they go off the general page they start to become less focused on.

Of course you're right that when things go off topic the original discussion or issue and points surrounding it or become less focussed upon.

"There's often more honesty and common sense from the 'ordinary' folk than there is from professional or academic BS artists."
You're right about that, often it seems individual commenters or the commenters combined have a much broader and better view of the topic than the authors.
That's probably where the real value in this forum lies I think, as well as our ability to speak more or less freely without censorship.
I've never had a comment deleted by Graham, but I know sometimes I might come close.

Yes we do have different opinions in regards to Israel, and I do have my criticisms as I do with many other topics.
But I'd like to make known my criticisms are simply an extension of the many different things I've learned, not at all based on any personal resentment or hatred.
I also agree with many of your thought and opinions; it's very rare that I disagree with your opinions other than on the topic of Israel.

AC,

We all do what we think is best, and I 'get' your comments on managing threads, and this is something I notice you do. However, I think that you are being too hard on yourself – knocking yourself out. I think it is a total waste of time responding to people who disagree with you. They have the right to disagree; they have the right tell you they disagree. But I no longer respond to criticism because it is tiresome and a waste of time. I would rather encourage people I agree with rather than argue with Left wing tossers whose only interest is trying to shut down anyone who disagrees with their holy writ.

Nevertheless, you certainly should stick to what you believe; I won't presume to dub you as being as conservatives I am, but you are certainly one of more intelligent and thoughtful posters on OLO. You are probably less cynical than I am. Not a bad thing.

PS. You know that very few contributors on the main forum every respond to our comments. But, they get their message across, and keep on coming back. Something to think about?

Dear Armchair Critic,

Don't be too concerned about people who use labelling
as a tactic on this forum and then talk about people
trying to close them down when they in effect are trying
to do precisely that to posters whose views don't
agree with theirs.

There's usually a reason why some
people get responses while others don't. A very good
reason. Sometimes it's the lack of civility in their posts
that is lacking, other times is might be arguments that
are illogical and abusive that are being presented.

In any case, most of us who have been on this forum for
quite a few years take all of this in our stride.

This is a public forum after all and it attracts a wide
variety of views. Some logical, others bordering
on the downright weird.

But how boring would it be if
we all agreed - and the forum became simply an echo
chamber of our own views. How dull and boring.
At the same
time how awful would it be if the forum
became a snake pit where
viciousness was allowed to rule - simply because opinions
differed.

One of the things that most posters like about this forum
is the different views presented.
Anyway, you certainly are entitled to your
opinions, as we all are. However, I guess we have to be
prepared to be challenged by other people who don't agree
with our opinions. That's part of life on a public forum
such as this one.

There you go AC. See what I mean?

ttbn,

Thank You for proving my point brilliantly!