An apology is called for

I need to apologise to all those Gransnetters who wanted to contribute to a serious discussion on this thread because it was badly disrupted by a juvenile disagreement. Gramps, who started a thoughtful conversation, deserves a particular apology – and I am truly sorry.

I should have had more sense than to let myself be riled by the first accusation – that I was unfair – supported by a grotesque misrepresentation of my original post. The viewpoint attributed to me was so fatuous that it was in itself insulting.

However, allowing the benefit of the doubt (scanning posts too quickly, perhaps), I clarified what I had said in the simplest possible terms. Shortly afterwards, exactly the same claim was made about my original post with the same absurd viewpoint attributed to me. I was also advised to read posts carefully – something I invariably do, although clearly my posts were not being read quite so assiduously.

There had also been a gratuitous comment that appeared to denigrate those Gransnetters who were non-Christian. While I didn't feel that this applied specifically to me, I was deeply indignant about it and I have, in any case, taken exception to every throwaway post about Gransnetters who are, apparently, not up to snuff in the view of a self-appointed arbiter.

I tried once again to clarify my viewpoint but was, I think, expressing a degree of anger that was, with hindsight, clearly excessive about something so trivial. Then once the poster launched into victim mode – invariably her default form of defence – I totally unforgivably dropped my lollies. I also made an accusation – of hypocrisy. Justified or not, it was a gross breach of courtesy and forum etiquette which I very much regret.