Dear GNHQ

Stephen Fry is a Marmite kind of person! I like him but I have several friends who dislike his style.

I can understand that folk who have had to deal with/ live with people who rely on / misuse prescription drugs could feel sensitive about those drugs being represented in a light hearted way.

It is a fine balance between being too sensitive / serious and making prescription drugs look harmless and fun. I don't think OP meant to imply people should swallow happy pills willy nilly or that Alea wanted to appear a spoil sport. Both were expressing a personal opinion and that's OK!

Stephen Fry is a depression sufferer but he still wouldn't want other people to be ruled by his sensitivities. That's what I like about his view on offence.

Stop what?

Chocolate gets the seratonin levels up.. so could we have a chocolate bar??

Sometimes we do not understand why something we said or done has upset someone- especially if it was meant to be funny or a joke. But if someone is upset- then that's good enough reason, no?

I won't ask, but I'm quite sure Alea has good reasons for finding this distasteful- so why not be sensitive to it and stop? Simple.

That reminds me of why (among other reasons) I cannot stand Stephen Fry.

Since I was reading the thread as light-hearted, it never occurred to me that the carrots for high horses comment was directed at anyone. There are often posters on high horses. I daresay I could be accused of high-horsism myself, even though I've never intended to be. More shrugs. More hey hoes.

Or as Stephen Fry would say (paraphrased): "So you're offended? So what?"

It seems to me that you have to take things in context.

No one on here would use a emoticon to try to derail a recovering alcoholic, or a one to sabotage someone's diet. They're just pictures to add illustration to a post.

And I don't know anyone who would be upset or offended by a 'prozac' emoticon (not that we're going to get one!) and that includes myself and others I know who are or have been on similar medication.

Perhaps a 'chill pill' emoticon would be more appropriate?

I have quite a few leftover little pills in packets of my own, and DBH has been off work for months, and is a right miserable sod on some days but I am still able to laugh at that. I found it very funny.

I have just come back from an afternoon out with a good friend who currently has both her OH and DS at home with depression. We both agreed, you have to laugh or you would cry. We prefer to laugh, and coming on gransnet does make me laugh.

I can't see what's offensive <sigh>, been there, done it, got the teeshirt etc. (and possibly starting to slither a bit at the moment?)

jingl, no need to apologise in my (humble) opinion.... It seems so difficult sometimes to keep on the narrow path between humour and offending someone .....l

No need for anybody to apologise.
You say "It is possible to walk away", thatbags, but does that mean we should only comment on a post if we agree? So much for discussion,
If however, the contrary opinion is expressed and is designated as being on one's "high horse" likewise, end of discussion.
I thought it harsh to describe my opinion as a "lecture" , another "put down".

phoenix I love it!

I have and am being treated for (don't like the phrase "suffer from") depression and haven't found this post/thread offensive.

Although I could quite quickly get fed up with the leaping woman in the summer frock!

Unless of course she was about to land in a cowpat..................

nought wrong in apologising either- if you realise you've upset somebody- good on you jingl. This 'high horse' thing is getting boring- all a bit too Downtown Abbey ;) 'does it sometimes get cold up there on the moral high ground'? perhaps. It truly takes one to know one.

sort of x-posts B

You're a breath of fresh air, Jing. I saw this thread as being light-hearted and quirky.

I think it would be impossible to try to take into account all the sensitivities that GN-ers may have when addressing emoji's. They're just a little add-on that enhances a post for whatever reason.

There's nothing wrong with needing or even just wanting to see the funny side of things, even things that aren't, in themselves, funny. It's a coping strategy, apart from anything else. A light-heartedly-meant thing will never be taken light-heartedly by everyone. It is possible to 'walk away'.

But I've just got this stupid habit of needing to see a funny side wherever possible

I don't think you need to apologise, jingl

I got it in the neck as well and I'm buggered if I'm going to say sorry.

This was meant as a light-hearted thread. I thought it would be recognised as that. It followed on from another post in which the original poster and then some others, were feeling a bit down. SAD was mentioned. I did not for one moment really expect a 'Prozac' emoticon.

I apologise profusely if I have upset anyone. I have had experience of depression both in myself and in my family. I do not take the subject lightly. But I've just got this stupid habit of needing to see a funny side wherever possible Sorry again.

For the people who do suffer from depression it might be a step too far and also for those with real SAD so maybe we can think of something ..surely we are creative enough.. for those who just find the colder, darker days less fun than brighter, warmer ones

uk.search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&type=C211GB91021D20150310&p=bed+emoticon

I feel like cutting me posting finger off. #howdoimanageit

The PM I believe you objected to, Merlotgran
"If the " high horse" comment was addressed to me I'd rather you said outright.
1)"Happy pills " not funny. Like so many people xxxx xxxx xxxxx was prescribed Valium like Smarties "" in the 60's , unable to break her addiction despite serious attempts.
2) I don't think depression is necessarily something to be joked about. Do we really want to give out an image of Prozac being the panacea for all ills older people have to put up with?
So if that constitutes being on my " high horse" so be it.
Sometimes you want to have a laugh, sometimes it doesn't seem all that fun, so that's all I feel"

I apologise if this PM (the clue is in the "P" part of "M" ) was unwelcome, but as it contained a reference to a (potentially identifiable) third party I thought it preferable to posting on the thread. But having redacted the message to remove the reference here it is for all to see.
Quite why it needed to be referred to n the thread is beyond me but I will learn from that and avoid expressing views privately if that seems to be better.

I think that there are still a fair few of us that are still asking for a "bleurgh" emoticon!

Alea. My post was intended for any high horse in residence at the GNHQ stable block and might fancy the odd [carrot] or two. I wasn't singling you out.

No need for the lecture PM