I don't care about the thread being reopened. I do care that the Mods have said that I started the thread to wind someone up. I didn't. I have said so a few times, I have even apologized if it was seen that way.

Once more I strongly resent being accused of something I did not do.

You may have valid reasons for closing the thread but don't accuse me of malice .

We have now enterd the Kindergarten

Take it up by PM, It's a far better approach to dealing with issues, When laundry gets aired people look for stains.

That's in Middlesex, innit?

Last time I looked yes, Somewhere to be avoided if I recall.

I laughed. I guess I laughed alone.

You have a rare unique sense of humour it seems. I shall have to work on my material so it appeals to a wider audience or alternatively just shut the hell up.

It,s the way you tell um boom boom

here,s a thought tho,,if you move to NS do you loose ya sense of humour

Or do you only move ther if you've already lost it?

I'm sure Fledermaus didn't set out to wind anyone up. I'm sure the intention was to highlight stereotypes.

It is, however, clear from other threads what would have happened as a result of the words Hoodie and gone to the dogs.

Those BE members who delight in using their superior intellect to put down certain posters at every opportunity (never tiring of 'the joke') would have used this opportunity too. Hence it was deemed to have the potential for this.

The thing is, the smart-ass one liners and insults (even the comment made about taking the dog for a walk in the early hours) encourage others to join the repartee and it all snowballs. What is initially a bit of fun degenerates into a situation where the 'target' is belittled by all and sundry - including otherwise well meaning posters 'carried away' by it all - just because they have a different opinion/experience.

But it's not just that; there's a bigger picture. There are plenty of people who share just one or two beliefs/experiences of the target and they may be put off posting their valid points for fear of being disparaged as well.

The country gone to the dogs argument, for example, might include all or several of "scroungers", Hoodies, binge drinking, immigrants, corrupt politicians, unsocial behaviour, weather, crime, attitudes, too much tax, poor education and other things. Comment unfavourably on just one or two aspects of that and the pack of hounds 'pounce' as if one is a paid up member of the BNP or the Bring back National Service hanging's too good for 'em bring back the birch Brigade and soon one's flesh is torn asunder. One is labelled as someone to ridicule.

I visit several forums on this site and it's noticeable that people have been 'frightened off' from the Canada side. It's too easy to say they should just grow a thicker skin. Did anyone else notice how contrite some people were on the thread about that disabled guy when it was discovered it was genuine and the OP was not a troll after all and had probably been beaten off?



Perhaps Fledermaus could start a new thread as was originally intended.

Any chance of getting my whip back please

The target wasn't the "country gone to the dogs" posters.

Didn't say it was. I said the likely outcome of the innocent and unrelated thread - having mentioned gone to the dogs - was that it would bring it out again.

Just as in an equally different and unrelated thread mention of walking the dog in the early hours (a clear reference to a legit gone to the dogs thread) was made.

Country. Dogs. Nothing to do with thread closure.

Absolutely 100% agree with all of this.

From a personal perspective only, I would imagine that this forum was set up initially so that expats had somewhere to gather and catch up with each other. Then I guess the site involved so that you have people like me and many others who are coming on here for advice and assistance but more importantly to connect and build up our own support networks with people who are at a similar stage in the process and who are experiencing similar ups, downs, trials and tribulations.

Sadly there are a few, and it is only a few, that take great delight in for want of a better phrase "winding up" these so called newbies.

Just because my experiences of the UK are not your experiences does not make my viewpoint or position any less valid than your experiences. I have been around forums for many a year and have moderated a fair few too and in all my time on the internet I have never met a bunch of people quite like this. I have long since grown a thick skin and am confident and secure enough (usually) to not take much notice but I know for a fact that there are others that aren't.

Why on earth people can't just live and let live is beyond me. I have never understood what kick people get out of goading and belittling people. This amounts to little more than playground bullying or school gate politics, of which I have very little time for either.

I do not profess to be a fountain of knowledge on anything at all and am always mindful that within this "community" as with any community there are good people and bad people, people I am drawn too, and those that instinctively I'm not, there are academics and intellectuals but there are also those that aren't and there are many different religious and political beliefs. I therefore choose to address people on the internet with the respect and courtesy that I would in real life and do you know, it would be nice to be treated the same.

As I said in previous posts, if you aren't interested in the subject matter or if you disagree then it is really easy to ignore and not read.

Another great example is that poor woman that came looking for support about her disabled son and was ridiculed and effectively called a liar, when really all she needed was help and support in a very desperate situation for herself and her son. Who are we to judge others - if you think she is a troll - it is quite simple don't answer, because by putting your thoughts out there others jump on the band wagon and before you know it there are people that could have just had something useful to contribute but would have been scared away.

I am sorry if you don't share my views and opinions but I will *not* be bullied out of a place where despite a few there are some really top notch people and a great resource.