Tory welfare cuts will impoverish 200,000 children next year and more than 600,00 in 2020

Anya, he's probably quite happily sat there,admiring his handiwork in the garden, although I do know what you mean.go and offer him tea and cake( he will soon perk up.)

Yes, I've noticed that.

Tried to PM your Elegran to apologise but Kindle wouldn't let me!

I agree with what you just said and find it rather childish when they don't apologise and often simply leave the thread.

D'you know, I'm sitting in our living room and looking through into the conservatory and DH is sat there, looking old and tired, wearing glasses and his hearing aid.

I suppose I'm lucky he's still here, as I know others have lost their DHs, so though I'm mocking him, at least he's still here to mock.

now where did all that come from?

nonnie I have not seen enough of your comments to judge you on assuming that they keep assuming that all others are delighted about the things that they are concerned about. so I am sorry if it seemed as though I was.

But there are others who post a lot and heatedly about political issues who harangue anyone who hasn't come down squarely on their side on an issue for being way out on the "other side", and do, indeed, twist what someone has posted to fit their own idea of what that implies about other things.

Ana thank you. Elegran I am sorry if I misunderstood your post, I did comment that I hadn't seen you do it before to show my surprise. Always happy to apologise if I get it wrong.

Sorry, missed an n out there!

Never say that to a retired man Anya! not unless you have oxygen and a defrib, machine standing by.

Oh, I thought mine was unique?

Anya hit nail on head there I should think. Explains why they know everything, including what I am thinking when even DH can't do that.

Nonie, thanks for your support, but I think you may have misunderstood Elegran's post. I thought she was agreeing that it does come across as unpleasant when people make assumptions about other posters, sometimes to a ridiculous degree i.e. 'you don't agree with me that X is white, therefore it follows that you must believe that X is black...

Oh yes roses ....I'm often tempted to retaliate by saying 'come and see what I've done in the kitchen!'

If I was being serious for a change I would think it arises from bitterness about a personal experience or disappointment with one's lot in life

just a passing thought

Yes, Nonnie, I have often thought that too.

Oh, you mean that you have one of those as well?

Well, most women....

'roses' I agree about taking things personally but think when it actually is personal one should stand up for oneself!

I do wonder about the insecurity or whatever it is, that makes one person twist what another has said. Presumably they do this because they are unsure of their argument?

Generally I'd agree about the men roses until they reach A Certain Age, usually about retirement time, when they lose their place in the world of work lose their hair need glasses hearing aids become very defensive about little things, that's when women seem to rise above them.

Nonnie, Anya, very true.I also think that taking everything personally is a strange concept.Unfortunately, women do this a hell of a lot more than men do.

I think there is a quote somewhere that goes something like this 'some people are born intolerant, some achieve intolerance and others have intolerance thrust upon them'......... so you are correct as it is 'sad' but I suspect it is therefore either nature or nurture or a combination of both.

Think you may be right Anya but isn't it sad that people who have lived long enough to become grandparents are so narrow minded, self opinionated and intolerant of those who have different opinions? I remember having an opposite opinion to you and we were capable of discussing the differences without demeaning each other or our differences. Now that is the way to have a responsible discussion.

A Daily Mail link to their follow up article concerning the woman on this week's BBC Question Time,
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3276961/Hardworking-mother-four-stunned-Tory-minister-silence-Question-Time-unlikely-affected-tax-credit-cuts.html

Nonnie there are threads which are 'no go areas' - and not only political ones. They are generally populated by people who don't want to be challenged on their views or experiences.

While I occasionally read them from morbid curiously, my reaction is generally 'WTF planet do they live on?'

That's OK in one way as this is generally a mutual society just to reinforce their views and they don't want anyone else's opinion. Occasionally an unsuspecting or unwary or extremely brave individual ventures onto their territory and tries to pose a differing opinion or point of view, but it's not really to be recommended. It's 'their' thread so best left alone [patrinisimg emoticon]

However, what really pisses me off, is when they invade other threads, usually mob-handed and shout down genuine debate.

I'm beginning to realise that politics converge on the far left and far right as there's little difference as far as I can see between brown shirts and red flags when it comes to seeing things from a different perspective

Durham. No I have never met Ana so am not in a position to know what she thinks about anything other than what I read. It just feels like some of you are being nasty to her and I have always wanted to support anyone who is being unfairly treated. Simple as that. No agenda!

I am on a thread about politics because I want to be. Didn't know I needed your approval. I most certainly did not say you are "all unpleasant" so it would be good if you did not twist what I say. Last time I challenged you for doing that you did not apologise so I won't expect one this time.

Elegran

She probably thinks that people are unpleasant if they keep assuming that all others are delighted about the things that they are concerned about. If there were less rhetoric, there would be more posters on the political threads.

That was unkind and I don't think I have seen you say anything so unpleasant before. You have no right to make any assumptions about what I think. I think there would be more posters on political threads if they didn't feel they would be attacked by others and if they were not misquoted or their opinions assumed.

Durham

^However, she is also complaining about the fact that there are so many posts on the thread, so many that she cannot be bothered to read them all.
I would not comment on a thread that has gone on for 11 pages without reading all the posts, and I would not comment at all if I did not want to read it all.
In fact what is the point of commenting on a political thread that you cannot be bothered to read it? Or any thread, come to that?^

No I did not! I cannot believe you can say such things which are simply not true. No, forget that I actually can.

If I wanted to read the sort of posts I have seen before from certain posters I would have gone on and read them but I chose not to, nothing to do with "bothered" or not. I have a life with many interesting things to do which means I don't need to waste my time reading posts from people I consider to be so biased that they offend me. In fact I would prefer to watch my lawn grow than read some of these nasty comments.

I did not "comment on a thread that has gone on for 11 pages without reading all the posts" I commented on comments on the thread which is entirely different but does not suit your agenda.

Your posts regarding me are not true and are offensive. I hope you are ashamed.

Good grief, now I must add unpleasant to anarchist, pedantic , adolescent,

Elegran all counties set their own pay scales since Gove axed collective pay bargaining in 2010, so what you are reading is just about Cumbria.

"Cumbria County Council said it was sympathetic to those facing big pay cuts and was involved in a number of appeals.

It also said the new pay structure would be fairer, with some staff better off under a single-status pay scheme.

But it admitted the change could mean some of the county's 3,500 teaching assistants being worse off."

This was in 2011, and came into force in April 2012. So TAs in Cumbria had already had pay cuts, and are now having their pay cut again.
The reason that lots of teaching assistants are needed is because special schools have been closed, so children that used to be in them are now in mainstream schools, in ordinary classes, yet needing individual attention, which teachers cannot supply as well as teaching the other 30+ kids.
Teaching assistants do tend to be highly qualified, but on half the pay that teachers get. They also do work out of hours, but not as much as teachers.
Councils see them as a way of reducing the pay bill, and who can blame them in these cash strapped times?