Charlie wrote:Nurse! The screens! wrote:[ My views are as sincerely held as yours
Given that you don't even admit who you are, Nurse, it is difficult to consider the concept that there is anything remotely sincere in your views.
In any case please do not turn this into a personal tirade.
The forum has recently been blissfully free of this kind of confusion of the expression of views and the use of personal insults.
Words hurt more than you may realise.
The reply was:
Nurse! The screens! wrote:That's rubbish Charlie - everyone knows who I am on this forum. I'm Des Bowring, music lover, birdwatcher, lifelong socialist and all-round good egg.
I have every right to tell someone to fuck off when they continually question my sincerity or make personal insults whenever I dare raise my head above the political parapet. For some weird reason this person seems to have such a high opinion of himself that he assumed I was taking a personal swipe at him when I expressed concern at anti-semitism in the left! Paranoia or what!
I have every right to voice my opinions on this forum without having to put up with personal jibes from the official spokesman for world socialism.
If you have been, thanks for listening.
If I have misunderstood someone, they could point this out. I could explain myself further, or withdraw and apologise, or edit / delete the post. I have done so before.
If I invite someone to debate their position (particularly in the light of their earlier, contradictory postings*), I do not want to be told to fuck off.
I do not expect Des Bowring or anyone else to agree with my politics, which I try to confine on this Forum to those topics that have a political theme or impact. I welcome discussion or debate and have no intention of steamrollering other views or trying to convert. I just want you to know where I stand.
I expect someone to act on the Forum as they do in their everyday lives. To use language like this in a job would lead to disciplinary action, for gross misconduct. To act like this this in a personal relationship is seen as a sign of "abusive behaviour". To act like this on, say, the fRoots Forum would result in being quickly kicked off.
I have said to Des once already
I repeat this, as nicely as I can.please do not use insulting words at me, it's crass and unoriginal.
I also add, when someone resorts to vulgar abuse, it's a clear sign that they have lost the argument.
* http://www.charliegillett.com/phpBB2/vi ... ght=israel