Cross about over use of the word heroic

Have you never admired someone's actions without being besotted?!

Yes, of course. Okay "almost all of us", rather than a total consensus. I acknowledge, not for the first time, that the man has shown courage, determination, endurance and, of course, a true sense of compassion or he wouldn't have done it in the first place. However, although full of admiration, I am not more than mildly interested. You jangly are clearly hugely excited and good for you. I know you enjoyed going to the river and seeing him – along with many other supporters, and have no doubt sponsored this extraordinary swim. By my definition, the man has been heroic; others might disagree, but generally I think there is a level of respect for his splendid achievement.

But you didn't have to call me "besotted", did you? That was mildly insulting.

Jangly, you have said worse than absentgrana about many people. Stop picking a fight where no insult was intended. You are behaving like a spoilt child, and do not deserve to have people tiptoeing round you in case you are "offended". You show no sign of tiptoeing yourself.

How old are you, do tell us? Between 4 and 6 would be my estimate. Possibly between 14 and 16, that is another age when children become gratuitously stroppy.

That is not an insult. Just a realistic estimate.

I accept your definition of heroic, absent, and I think that's quite a common view (with 'common' there having its most innocent meaning), but I'm not comfortable with it. Perhaps I'm just being 'nice' about my definition, but although I'd call the polar-walking disabled soldiers heroes, I don't think Walliams is a hero. He's a good chap and has done something to be proud of, but it was perfectly within his capabilities (he has swum the Channel). Those soldiers did something way beyond what anyone could expect them to do. That's heroic, for me.

Look, if I hurt anyone, they can just come on and say so.

I have only once been deliberately nasty on this website, and that was in the aftermath of an unpleasant private message that was sent to me by the gransnetter concerned. I was sorry about it very soon afterwards and did my best to put it right.

I don't know when I have hurt anyone else.

I can't believe that people are being so picky about this! Of course those soldiers were heroes. But there is room for more.

How can accusing someone of being "besotted" not be meant as an insult?

Why would I sit back and take that?

I don't think absent was being deliberately nasty either, she went out of her way to be conciliatory in her next post.

elegran, if only jangly had made her profile public as most of us on this thread have done, we'd know the answer to your question.

What would you like to know Annobel?

I live in the south east of England. I will be 70 in three weeks' time. I have two grandsons (whom I am besotted over). I like reading, gardening (sometimes), walking and riding my bike.

What else would you like to know?

I will answer later, thoughj. I paid good money for the chops I am cooking.

Picky! Oh, jangly, really!
Picky! Ha! Ha! That's rich, coming from you!
And no, absent wasn't insulting you. I've often felt a bit put out by some of your comments and I think a few other people have too. How about a bit of 'take'?

I think this is getting to be online bullying.

Annobel. whatever her chronological age, I think it is too late to change her posting patterns. I do think she has become less playful lately though, and more truculent. Makes everyone less indulgent.

jangly I'm finding it hard to understand why you feel David Walliams should achieve the same status as someone who has suffered horrendous mutliations and yet goes on to perform an outstanding act of physical endurance. Ok, so David had some discomfort while he was swimming, that's a shame and all credit to him for continuing, but let's face it, in a day or two he'll be back to full fitness, the boys who trekked to the North Pole will never have another 'normal' day in their lives.

If you were all in a room with me now I would suggest that everyone takes some time out.

Of course I've been less playful lately. Wouldn't you be?

I've felt like flipping Julius Ceaser with all the knives going in.

I don't understand. Where did the bit about the soldiers come from? I've already answered that anyway.

One comment, Jess, before I go and eat my cod fillet and mash.

Jangly, you say you feel hurt by absent's "obsessed" which was not aimed at you as a serious insult. How often, I wonder, has someone been hurt by something you popped out hastily, which you did not mean as a real insult either? Some would come back to you to object, a lot would be like the little old ladies you can't imagine objecting to being sworn at, and retreated without striking a blow in their own defence. Where is the bullying there?

I have reread many of my own posts before sending them off, and deleted something I thought might be misunderstood. Have you?

And the playfulness had grown sharper claws before the recent comments.

I did ask GNHQ to be banned from posting after that other thing. Geraldine tells me I would be missed. I don't know what to think.

Geraldine is right, you would be missed, but do remember to read what you post before you fire it off, as though you were on the receiving end. Discussion is good, barbs are bad.

I don't know how I got in this silly situation. It is too hurtful. I will TELL Geraldine to unsubscribe me.

If I have genuinely hurt anyone, then I am sorry.

I am NOT flouncing. Please don't call it that.

I have asked to be unsubscribed.

I can't believe I am reading this! I have no desire to add anything to this thread; I was reading it out of interest, but it's degenerating into sounding like twelve-year olds sniping at each other in a playground! C'mon guys, you can do better than this...

jangly;you'll SO regret it if you leave..when I said I was going to I then desperately wanted to join in with the 9/11 discussion. It's really difficult to get points across on the internet even with the use of smileys and so easy to misunderstand someone's intention when they make certain comments..that's why it's sometimes best to think carefully about what we write [oh for an edit facility as well].