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

gracesmum

That's right Nonu.

gracesmum has a different style from me, but she's saying pretty much the same thing in this instance.

Don't worry about it, jings. I don't. The constant complaining is just childish. The choice is join in the debate (robust discussion) or don't. If one doesn't join in one's opinions, however gently or robustly expressed, can't be questioned/attacked (insert preferred word). Therefore, logically, no problem. If one does join in, and people disagree with you, then they have every right to say so, as robustly as they wish.

The complaints are fairly robust. Kettle. Pot. Black.

Thanks B . you musn"t get paranoid JO , you know full well butter wouldn"t melt with either of u.

I am farirly certain religion will NOT be on the menu at Birmingham!! But I am looking forward to lunch, good company, and maybe some I hope?
Regarding contentious issues- we all have the choice to rise to the bait (it bait it is) to defend our views or, sometimes , to leave it if getting het up is more likely to distress us. Am I being a wimp? Possibly, but when discussions are carried out in writing and possibly with a time lapse, it can be easy to misinterpret or take offence where none is intended. Some of us enjoy a good old ding-dong, and others don't - TG we are all different!

I don't know who's being told off on some of these posts, me or Bags.

It's bound to be one or the other of us.

There's a space between the s of flowers and the ]

That's why it didn't work

Here are some for you

Have fun on your hols, nonu. If you can't get on GN while you're away, I'll look forward to hearing about it when you return. Thanks for the flowers.

it relly ticks me off when my emoticons don"t appear , I do it all right as well .

Bags , [flowers ] no , they are not from the shell filling station . You will miss me when I am away , or perhaps you won"t ! tee hee

Yes, nonu You strike me as robust as well. Three cheers for robustness!

Nobody has to explain their faith, but if they mention it, it's not unreasonable for people to ask them questions, such as why do you believe x or y instead of a or b. If you don't want to answer the questions, then don't. Simple.

Robust !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS granny23, I like it that you are so robust in your nationalism, in spite of the fact that I don't have nationalistic feelings. I have other friends who are robust nationalists as well. Obviously, I wouldn't know they were robust nationalists if they hadn't expressed their views on the subject robustly. Similarly, I wouldn't have known my robustly Mormon friends are robust Mormons if they hadn't done likewise.

glitabo I've been a member for a very long time. 99.9% of the time I am delighted to pop in to GN and contribute and share points of view. I especially love the grin-making, light-hearted posts. Recently, I have become bored with the silly, niggly, childish behaviour that causes upset to other members. From hereon, I shall side-step such issues. Life is too short to court pettiness.

Dominant, baiting and bashing, difficult my goodness what a way to describe ladies of a cetain age

Why should people explain their faith ?

Hey, granny23, and good for you! I enjoyed listening to you. let's meet up again sometime.

Now I'd better go back and read the rest.

glitabo you are so right but unofortunately the 'dominant' GNs don't seem to think they are 'baiting and bashing' but are being 'robust'. Please still come, I think all the people who are coming are not the 'difficult' ones and that we will have a great time. I am looking forward to meeting you.

If debates seem to be dominated by a small group then the rest of you need to post more. A small group only appears to dominate because others don't bother to post.

I'm relatively new and I've had no problem joining in debates.

I don't think the topics are particularly anti-Christian or indeed anti any faith but they do challenge people to explain their faith or lack of it and cause people to reflect on their beliefs which surely is no bad thing.

MiceElf I agree with your post wholeheartedly. Sorry I didn't make mine clear. I meant that these were 2 subjects on which we predominantly get only the non-believers for religion and the left wing on anything political which are probably not representative of the whole. I think the robust manner of some posts puts people off from contributing. I hope this has clarified my feelings.

Helmar I agree with you. These bouts of baiting and bashing are becoming tedious. I too am reconsidering my decision to go to the Birmingham meet up.
The only reason that I am still going is because I have met 2 of the people who will be there and I enjoyed their company very much.
When I first joined Gransnet, only a few months ago, I enjoyed the debates and found them interesting. It was refreshing to communicate with people of my generation who were still feisty and opinionated. Recently, however, the debates have taken a different turn and TBH are dominated by a very small number of Gnetters.
I anticipate an adverse reaction to this posting but hey, whatever it takes.

Good point Alison! But atheism and being left wing are not synonymous. I'm a old fashioned lefty (by the way the Labour party isn't left wing - that may or may not be the reason why it isn't in power) but I am a Christian. We come in all shapes and sizes and, as I'm sure you know, all shades of political and theological opinion.

But I do agree, and I'm not sure who I'm agreeing with here, that robust can sound aggressive and is often counter productive, because if people feel bludgeoned by the tone of the debate / discussion, they will often withdraw from that debate. Calm reason, courteous listening and responding to all the points made, rather than ignoring very valid comments, by a person who is of a different opinion, is far more more likely to achieve mutual respect, mutual listening and mutual understanding, if not agreement.

Helmar; I gues I'd class myself as an atheist but a methodist friend once told me that I was 'one of the most spiritual people she'd ever know'. I've been to an Alpha course with a friend; it didn't work for me but I met some wonderful people. Please come to Brum; religion isn't an issue in any way [and I'm not sure why it has become one ]. I totally respect anyone's beliefs, as I'm sure most people do.