Dear Foxy,

I'm honoured :) .

The great thing about OLO is that sometimes we make fools of ourselves (or at least I have done on occasion) but that so what ? Nobody can reach through cyberspace and smack us around the ear, even if they would dearly love to. Christ, I certainly would.

So I would certainly encourage any new posters to put up posts on any topic they feel like. So what if some idiot calls you a loony leftie or an Alt-Right, sometimes for the same comment ?

Like you, Foxy, I've learnt so much from other posters, certainly the need to smarten up my own views which are of course so self-evidently correct, yet attract empty criticism. So I think. But I suppose all of us think a bit like that. Which is why we get so pissed off when someone else disagrees. But surely that how civil society should work ? We throw our ideas into the forum and others rip them to pieces. Unless we're snowflakes, so what ?

Of course, we also have children like Misopinionated with his brand-new sociology degree and his "Mummy ! Mummy ! I do poos !" postings.

Ah, you can take the kid out of Bankstown but ....

Love,

Joe

The great thing about OLO is that it is not censored.

I assume that most people join forums to have their ego stroked by finding all posts are by people of the same opinion. This is obviously the only reason for anyone to be still tuning into the ABC.

Those less confident folk, left or right would find the expression of opinions totally contrary to theirs rather confronting, particularly if they are an ABC fan for example.

So those with less robust self confidence probably are rather shocked, & quickly return to places safer for petals.

How about this gem from Mr O? "My fear of being an ignorant man". Perhaps he should have avoided attending anything in an arts department of an Oz university to achieve that aim.

Dear Joe,

You can take this kid out of Parramatta... (smile).
I'm a Westie as well. And proud of it!

I just realisehat I forgot to mention - Paul in naming
the names dear to my heart. My apologies Paul.
And apologies to any others I may have missed - like
David F., Cossomby, and - Big Nana, there's so many.
And all great contributors.

There's HenryL., Individual, mhaze, Shadow Minister,
who all keep me on my toes and challenge me. And again,
so many more. If I've not mentioned you - I apologise
ahead of time. I don't mean to hurt any one's feelings.
You all add a great deal to this forum, and without
you it would be a lot duller.

I agree that newbies should feel free to add their
perspectives. We do need new voices to give us new
perspectives. Hopefully we'll get them sooner than later.

Thanks Belly for this discussion.

And you thought it wouldn't take off?

Which just goes to prove that despite our differences
we can come together for something worthwhile.

cont'd ...

And of course how could I forget dear Hasbeen.

Hassie has stood by me through thick and thin,
despite some of my strong feelings at times.

Thank You Hassie!

cont'd ...

And to ttbn - keep on posting -
We can all learn from them.

Mr. O's fears of being ignorant have already been realised. He doesn't know it, and probably never will.