The post you are reporting:
Thankyou, Ross - at last someone gets my point.
In my opinion it crossed a line the other day. Paul and I already have had discussions on it and I respect his point of view but on reflection I wanted to say something after all. I posted the guidelines from the local football club's forum as a typical example of how other forums deal with personal comments and/or abuse.
It disappoints me sometimes that people have to get personal when issues of a non-personal nature are under discussion. I don't agree that one man's personal abuse is another man''s banter. It is not at all unusual on the internet for the cynical and disingenuous to use the "it's only banter" figleaf, or word salad with phrases like "I would say so and so. but etc etc" when the meaning and spirit of the post is all too clear. It seems one or two forum members opportunistically take advantage of someone being attacked and join in so the little doggies have their bit. Abuse is abuse is abuse - and no-one should have to tolerate global condemnations of their character or comments about personal friendships that are totally irrelevant to the point, as happened to me the other day. What is more, these people don't even know me - and Jan, if you did, you would know that I have a keen sense of humour. Sorry, but playing the 'sense of humour' card was again disingenuous. As for being 'easily upset,' I know the reason behind your remark is because of a post I made many months ago questioning the work ethic of some Dovorians. It clearly upset you - for which I apologise. But is there any need to wait around and join n an ambush months later, one that few if any forum members had the backbone to directly challenge? Perhaps a bit of a pack mentality prevails? people just want to side with the majority it seems. I have the impression some members use the forum merely to co0urt popularity or do a bit of sniping rather than get their teeth into a real debate - fair enough if that's what they want to do, and don't get abusive.
Let's not be so naive as to pretend that there is no aggressive intent behind some comments - which, let's not forget, are there for the world and his wife to read and can be damaging and humiliating as well as unfair and inaccurate.
I am not prepared to tolerate the kind of remarks aimed at my way a coupe of days ago and nor should anyone else.
I was annoyed at being accused of being "verbose" as it was not even accurate and I wonder whether the person concerned really understood what "verbosity" means. As someone who writes for a living I find it pretty annoying; rather like telling a professional footballer he cannot kick a ball. I pride myself on saying things concisely. It's a bit of sad world if a little colourful writing is to be expunged - and that was my reward for posting in support of a small business, not attacking an individual in any way! in any case the Edit function exists if someone has second thoughts about what they have written.
Anyway I am certainly not going to keep exposing myself to personal remarks and abuse that are of no relevance. As it stands, anyone can say pretty much what they like about other forumites and they just have t put up with it.
Some intelligent and thoughtful members have already been lost - I will see how things go but I don;t need days like Tuesday with people queuing up to have a pop . I am not a politician and don;t agree that you should have to put up with anything that comes your way online.