to feel despair at the gay marriage vote

I agree that Maries was brave to wade in as she did to a discussion that was going very well between all sorts of people. Well done Maries. (before anyone criticises that as sarcastic; it isn't).

Oh, sorry, she said she wasn't going to wade in. Oh well, never mind about the fact that it would have been wading in if I'd done it. (that bit is sarcastic).

Hey, people, we're allowed to mock stuff like that! Hey, people, we're allowed to 'mock' the idea that wading in is not wading in and saying a majority is not a majority, and other such nonsense by calmly saying that these are entertaining remarks after we've just guffawed at them. Gransnet, as someone at HQ said only recently, is "not sweet and fluffy"; it's a discussion forum. All the normal debating devices are allowed!

So I'm allowed to be amused by what I see as ridiculous arguments. Someone else not find it amusing is fine too, which is why, I suppose, the whining about cliques recurrs every time some members of gransnet demolish a ridiculous and illogical argument.

And then the emotional blackmail device gets used. "I'm hurt; I'm leaving."

Plus ça change.....

A few pages back I posted that I was so pleased to have an interesting conversation with nobody 'getting the hump'. So sad that it didn't continue that way.

So we are back to vague, unpleasant allegations! I stopped posting on most threads because a certain group of people pounced on every post I made with hostile comments. It was said that things were nicer when I was away over Christmas and I was the cause of every argument. Funny, the arguments seemed to continue quite nicely without any input from me. Yet the jibes and little digs continue unabated but I treated them with the contempt they deserved.
I didn't report anybody and I didn't whinge and play the martyr.
And yes, it was comforting when friends I had made since joining supported me.
Well, I am off to pursue my 'sad, little life' with my loving family in New Zealand, and when I return I will be having friends to stay in my beautiful Alps, then I will be going to Egypt for a snorkeling holiday. I wish everybody had a life as sad as mine!

Maries, not Marie.

Yes, it is always the same few people and it is always the same tone.

It is not just to do with being like-minded, it is the way that like-mindedness is expressed. Mocking the 'target' person, jokes between themselves at her expense, speaking on behalf of each other, and so on, all add to the impression of bullying.

This may very well not be the intention. I'm sure belonging to a group of friends gives a nice warm feeling.

It's not really particularly brave to speak out when one knows one has the support of one's group. As jO8 says, the brave one in all of this has been Marie who was standing alone and unsupported against four or five people.

What's more, she's not the only one this has been happening to recently.

Yes. Marie's has been brave.

It's always the same people and they always take the same tone. Been the same since GN started.

But there has been some mockery Absent, if not by you.
This thread has gone round and round in circles with just a few views being said over and over again . think it's time to beg to differ!

Why does a group of like-minded people have to be denigrated as 'a clique'?

petallus She is j08 and she is absolutely mistaken.

JO7 you are absolutely right.

j08 I haven't mocked anyone. On the contrary, I have been very careful to express my understanding that this subject raises very powerful feelings. Please quote the instance where I have mocked someone on this thread. Maries has not been treated badly – her views have been responded to in a sensible and serious way. Disagreeing with what someone says is not bullying and there are no cliques. I am so tired of that lazy accusation.

Well I did. No doubt it will soon be deleted. I hope Marie's sees it before it goes. She was treated badly.

Why do you absent so often have to mock people if they show a bit of emotion.

J08 I don't think you should have said either of those things.

Message deleted by Gransnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

Message deleted by Gransnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

all sleep well.

Petallus I am confused – what experience are you apologising for?

Bags, I will never think of you the same way again.

There is a saying that "If god didn't exist, man would have invented him". If I ever find out who that man is, in spite of all my lifelong pacifist principles, I swear I'll kill him! Once again, I am losing the will to live.

But I'm betting.....

No, I won't say it. Back to the fo'c'sle, Bags, you mutinous dog!

maries "The civil change in the law imposing itself on the CofE only happens because that church is enshrined in our law as the established church of the state"

What state? Think about it.

Well... quite, jura . So "hallowed poster" is OK but "entertaining" is not. Hey ho.

What a shame you feel that way- why is it OK for you to be passionate about your beliefs and yet see other passionate views as attacks?

Hallowed atheist though - what next?