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

I feel like you Bluegal, people do disagree strongly, but I don't think I have actually seen any personal abuse.

I am relatively new to Gransnet but have never seen any personal abuse comments or at least I don't think I have.
But like all forums, people are people and some will love to be argumentative - just for the heck of it!

I think it mainly occurs on the political threads which these days I try to avoid, where people often hold firmly entrenched and passionate views, and don't wish to engage in a constructive debate with those whose views differ from their own, and posts are liable to become quite personal. I think this is inevitable where sex and politics are discussed. It happens in RL too.

Good question Ilovecheese. I started the thread because I felt a bit dispirited by comments that were bouncing between some posters, which I felt edged beyond disagreement about points of view, belief systems, political leanings and so on. I enjoy discussing politics, news etc but I don’t feel discussions benefit when nasty personal comments are made. Nope, don’t suppose we I can answer your question without naming names. Maybe I had my Pollyanna hat on and should stay on the gardening page.

What sort of thing do you consider to be personal abuse? Could you give an example without naming names?

I have been thinking the same myself Iam. I understand people are passionate about some subjects but I think they should be able to argue their position without resorting to personal abuse.