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

Helmar Please come and meet us in Brum. I will be there and I am the one who was pilloried for standing up for Christians. All sorts of comments were attributed to me which I had not made and I was very hurt but have got over it. I know that one of the attendees is a Christian so you will certainly not be alone. I don't think that anyone would be as provocative face to face as they are on here.

Please speak up when you can. It sometimes seems to me that the non-believers and the left wingers dominate some threads. But if we were all left wing why are the labour party not in power?

Well said, Granny23.

Hey bags - I would not say I admitted to actually being a Scottish Nationalist but rather that I declared it proudly!!! I find that it is best to declare an interest or strongly held opinion at the start of a discussion, rather than to keep schtum (sp?) and let people get in deep before pouncing on them.

I recall a meeting of Academics, Social Workers, Mediators and Lawyers (+ me - only there to take the minute) where the participants went off on a tangent for a good 10 minutes, to denigrate my home village and all residents thereof as being beyond redemption and thus best ignored when making policy decisions. Everyone joined in gleefully - each had an anecdote to tell and they laughed and egged each other on until the Chair brought the meeting back to order. With no right to speak I kept my head down, scribbled furiously and plotted revenge. As the meeting ended I asked sweetly and innocently if they wanted that section recorded in the minute. Blank looks until I added that I thought it might upset residents of T. One, laughing said she doubted that any of them would be able to read it. Me - 'Really, well it is one of them who will be writing it'. Red faces and hasty exits, no invite to the pub for me.

Anyway, it taught me a lesson, which I try to apply in life and on Gransnet, to lay your cards on the table at the earliest opportunity. So no starting conversations or threads with a teaser to lead people on and then hitting them with the big reveal. That may give you a momentary feeling of superiority but is no way to win friends and influence people!

Agree with Bags here. You wouldn't be talking about religion on a meet-up.

This is just a making up thread.

Bags knows.

PS I wouldn't let stuff on here put you off going to the Birmingham meet up though. There'll be others who believe the same or similar things to you, and some who don't.

At the Glasgow meet up we had a very interesting discussion about Scottish independence. I think only one out of six of us admitted to actually being a Scottish Nationalist, but that didn't mean we couldn't listen to what she had to say, and to respect her for being herself. It was great.

Good for you, helmar. Takes guts to speak up, doesn't it. I respect you for that even if I don't respect your beliefs . I hope you understand.

Loads o' winks back, jings

Helmar

I am a Christian and proud of it and although your opinion wont change the way i feel, the religion bashing makes me feel very uncomfortable.
I was intending to come to the Birmingham meet up, but this is putting me off very much.
I dont force my beliefs on any one but in turn expect them to respect mine.
I dont often comment on threads because i am not a very confident person and dont like confrontation.
I am sorry if what i have said annoys anyone but i have wanted to speak up for a while about this.

I'm gonna shut up now.

Loads of winks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!