I'm new to the characters involved here, so I don't know any rights and wrongs, or who has been nasty (or was thought to be) to whom. But: if you know that saying something to a group of friends would cause offence, you don't say it. Surely 'watch what you say' is normal behaviour in social beings, whether you are writing or saying. And people sometimes have a thinner skin than usual because of what is happening in their lives. On a forum, you can't know that. Plus, if you take personally something that has been written, it is easier to re-read and refuel the hurt or resentment, than when it was only said. Gransnet can be like a great village, with all the factions and misunderstandings and crossovers, particularly as you don't always get the tone in writing.