AIBU to live in hope that even controversial threads can avoid personal abuse?

oh, that looks like a rugby ball now

Stay calm and watch football ⚽️

not if DS was watching too!!

Thank you gillybob - good advice and much appreciated! Have a good day!

You make a very good point DanniRae why indeed?

Stay calm and watch football ⚽️

Can I just say on this thread I can not understand why, when a thread is trundling along nicely with lots of positive comments about a subject, someone comes on and says "I can't understand why anyone would be in the least bit interested in xxxxxx. It's boring and I have no interest in it at all!" Why read the bl**dy thread then? Why be so rude to the people who are enjoying putting their comments? It just makes me so angry
Sorry for rant........breathes deeply...........and I am calm!!

True sodapop but then the person withdrawing could be accused of "flouncing". I am all in favour of robust debate but surely this can be done without making personal comments. I have a friend whose views on just about everything are different to mine, we often have discussions about anything and everything, but those discussions never deteriorate to insults. I respect his views and he respects mine (although we neither of us stop hoping we can change the others mind!)

This is funny no one can even agree about agreeing

I am passionate about some things like B-it so stay well away from those political threads because what’s the point no ones going to change my mind nor I theirs so stay away and stay sane
I try never to get personal I think in the ‘help /relationship’ type threads some people ask for advice then take it as a total rebuff if you come up with something that is not what they are wanting to hear but that’s not being personal or harsh it’s being truthful and having a different take on their problem (which should be useful)

I would say it’s definitely lack of education . I passed the 11+ went to grammar school. What a waste. Left at 16, got a job (because I was told I had to) got pregnant at 18, the rest is history.

I agree to an extent but I wouldn't like to see GN become any more bland than it is already.
There is always the option to withdraw if you are not happy with the tone of the posts.

I take back what I said. I've just been on a post where a lady is hurt at not receiving a card on a special occasion. And some comments are rude and hurtful. No need.

Iam64 I have seen some posts that are maybe a little bit blunt. I do think people should discuss without rudeness yes. I think we manage it. Correct me if I'm wrong. I love gransnet. I wish people could be like that in real life.

Iam64
You wonder why people get personal?
Oldmegs post says it all: attitude!!

Oldmeg
Or is it lack of education. How bloody condescending
More than angry. Bloody livid.

I must have missed the requirement to submit my CV and academic record when I joined Gransnet. Somehow I sneaked in!

As for debating skills. In my experience (sorry, no CV available), debating rules can be taught; skills can be acquired only through observation and practice.

OldMeg I hope you didn't mean that as it came across. Some of us have been fortunate in our education, some have worked their socks off!! We have all had to learn how to 'deal with' people and situations. Gransnetters are here for virtual friendships and contact with the outside world. "Debating skills at school" really!!!

You may regret starting this thread Iam64


lack of education? Does GN have rules on how educated someone must be before they are allowed to post?
I didn't realise

on second thoughts - please, asking very politely varian, could we have one thread that doesn't refer to Brexit?
Please?

Does a PhD in a particular type of Science prove anything?

I was just going to post something but thought it could be construed as personal so may refrain.

ooh dearie me

GrannyGravy but are we all ‘grown ups’, or is it lack of education?

How many were taught debating skills at school?

I feel uncomfortable when threads sway towards personal insults. We all have differing opinions, we are grown ups and as such should be able to discuss without the need to attack another poster for their religious, political beliefs or even monetary status.

varian

is unlikely that the double first was in logic and statistics

???

I do agree but feel a lot of people are quite unable to discuss differing political views amicably.

No, unfortunately not only the political threads, quite unpleasant comments on a thread about rodents recently

I think that the problem may be related to people being offended by statistics. For instance, in the discussions of brexit, the most important and divisive issue of our times, if someone says that Leave voters tended to be less well educated, an angry leaver might say "I've got a double first from Cambridge and I voted leave" which of course proves nothing, but it is unlikely that the double first was in logic and statistics.