I, for one, don't know where this website would be without............

J04 I hate conflict. On the other hand, I'm certainly no pushover. So here goes. You seem to enjoy "stirring" and recently, you managed to hurt the feelings of a few very nice members. Why do you do it? You wouldn't be so abrasive with strangers in a supermarket queue, would you? After you've ruffled a few feathers, you stroll away and lie low for a day or so. Then, as if nothing untoward had happened, in you come and make light of what I consider to be your BAD manners. At first, I thought that you were amusing. I'm sorry to say that I have most certainly changed my mind. We'll steer clear of each other from hereon.

Nonu these sleeps you talk about. You do have 'em at night like the rest of us don't you?

Funny you should say that anagram , still I won"t be around for the next 5 weeks as I am off to USA , only one more sleep. I might post though one never knows

Lighten up folk. I don't think beliefs can always be rationalised-sometimes it is just something that seems oh yes now it all makes sense whether it is John Smith or St Benedict or Terry Pratchett's view of the universe-turtles and elephants and so on. I have met Chuck thingummy who landed on the moon and I secretly in my heart of hearts know that he could have brought back some cheese if he had dug deeper. (I've seen the moon dust)

You may have been joking, jingl....

I'm off too. Dh is cooking my dinner

I was joking Nanadogsbody.

Sweet dreams .

Wonder what the average age of the posters on here is ? Suppose it is hard to quantify !

That's it I'm off.

Me neither !

Then it can all be deleted.

Maybe we should all say exactly what we think, name names, and have done with it.

Otherwise we're all gonna be flippin' paranoid!!!!

We're discussing bullies and their hangers on.

I seem to remember starting this thread somw hours ago, but I don't know what the f--- it's all about now.

She must have been very unhappy underneath Anagram. Being 'clever' at other people's expense is no way to get your kicks. Anyone who does that is clearly not a happy person.

If anyone else has an explanation for why people become bullies I would love to hear it as I really do want to understand.

Back off nonu

Not simple alison perhaps a gentle soul? It's not the bullies that bother me. Like soop I can deal with them. It's their followers, they are sheep and brainless and impossible to reason with.

Alison, I'm sure she didn't think she was a bully as such - she just thought she was very clever with words (which she was) and enjoyed having power over other people. I hesitate to say this, because I know there are a lot of teachers on here, but she taught at a boys' school and was particularly scathing about her pupils - perhaps sarcasm was her way of controlling them.

Nonu I am beginning to get very tired of your digs at me.

Anagram Did your stepmother know she was a bully? I ask because I don't understand what makes someone behave that way and I would love to. Is it that they have never had to consider anyone else? Presumably they have never been bullied or they wouldn't do it? Do they make excuses to themselves to justify what they are doing? I can fully understand the people who follow them as they are insecure and need to feel they 'belong' but I have never been able to understand why someone would want to bully someone else. Maybe I am just too simple a soul?

perhaps that explains a lot anagram

Soop x shall we have one together

Yes, well said, soop. I particularly dislike sarcasm when it is used to put down or belittle someone, as it invites others to snigger along with the user and thus compound the victim's humiliation. My stepmother was an expert, and one of the worst bullies I have ever known.

Aye, there's the nub soop. Part of me says 'don't come down to their level' while the other part of me says 'you don't scare me'. Which is nobler?