scrubbedexpat095

@LIW

I think the real problem is that when you, Sally et al, visit PDT it's only to partake in contentious threads wrt either UKIP or Muslims, perhaps if you took part in threads that were less confrontational then you and Domino could end up sitting round the campfire getting to know each better and singing Kumbaya

jimenato

Am I the only one who sees Bipat and LIW as welcome bringers of relative sanity to a mostly festering pit of badmouthing and bigotry?

Lion in Winter

I don't completely disagree with you. I care deeply about some of tbe things that come up on those threads and I'm unlikely to be unchallenging on those. But then that is the same for everyone - the visitors have been no more contentious than the locals. Trouble is I can't really participate on tbe other Spain threads because they tend to be about day to day Spanish life and I live in the middle of the US. This I why I suggested that some of you might visit The Lounge which Iis full of general topics and people from all over the forum. Some of us might find some common ground that way. I'm not singing tbough, and frankly no one would want me to.

Lion in Winter

I do really, really hate that stuff and have way too much experience of what that does in real life to real people..

I also know that sometimes people get into corners they don't really want to be in and if we could get past the sectarianism in PDT we might make progress together.

Sally Redux

Bipat has real information to bring about India, always in a polite way. I find it just astonishing how she is demonised by some.

LIW has enormous patience to try to discuss issues rationally.

I tend towards silliness because on occasion I just can't believe what I'm reading, but I am also sad about the hatred which is sometimes displayed on this part of the forum.

scrubbedexpat095

I agree for LIW whenever I've engaged with her I found her POV's interesting but Bipat I'm afraid I see her as an apologist for India's serious issues I engaged with her once on some articles that the BBC were doing about female problems in India and her only response was well it's not widespread (which is frankly untrue) and then of course came 'but what about etc.' In her defence I will say she was at that moment engaged in a long standing argument with some others here so maybe I've misjudged her, time will tell.

Funnily enough, as I am more of a lurker than poster I often read her posts in the Goa forum

As for the badmouthing and bigotry, I do agree with you, there is far too much of that here.

Leslie

And blatant misogyny.

scrubbedexpat095

Yes indeed, there are quite a few here who fit that description.

Domino

<< sigh >>

it has started again

Bipat

Discovered I am being discussed, thank you to those above for their kind words.


I hope I have not apologised for India's serious issues, there are certainly plenty of them, far more so than discussed on here.
I have only tried to make the point, that although, for instance, atrocities against women are widespread the majority of Indian people are not involved. It is a 'big place' and a billion people.
Anyway the new Government is installed and hopefully change will come as quickly as possible. (Although, I am personally not sure if I agree with the choice of Maneka Gandhi as Cabinet Minister for women and children; hope I am wrong).

If you lurk in the Goa Forum you will see that finally British Expats there are being allowed to register their deeds of houses purchased before foreigner buying became illegal. So change already.

Our place is in N. karnataka and Bl***** hot at this time of year.

Lion in Winter

No. It hasn't. It's just normal expression of different points of view.And you could be part of changing things too.

rachelk

Online discussion forums are a bit like real life discussions in any bar or cafe or other public place. Sometimes it gets a bit heated, sometimes it drifts off track. I realise the moderators have a difficult job and they have to know where the line is between necessary moderation and heavy-handedness. They're a bit like the barman who sometimes has to tell a group of customers to cool it or to go home and sleep it off before it gets messy or before they scare away other customers. But if a barmen were to say to his customers 'Oi, you can't talk about that at this table, it you want to talk about that you have to go over there with them. If you want to sit here you have to talk about x y or z.' he'd probably end up losing his customers.

I didn't mind at all when we were told to keep certain discussions to the pdt. So why do I feel so irked at seeing threads moved elsewhere? What was the point of pdt?

Mitzyboy

Respect!

jackytoo

Couldn't have put it better. There also needs to be some clarification of what is acceptable. I see Bevs has said


If a thread in TIO descends into no more than a tedious litany of personal jibes and name calling as has happened in PdT ,which in itself derails from a topic, it will be moderated I am sure. Either by the moderators or by the other posters themselves who tend to be able to self moderate.
"
Have I been reading the same TIO!
Now just this week I have seen a lot of personal jibes. Some people have been banned for less...How about

I honestly think you have a learning difficulty

You're a loon. posted by LIW

Are you mentally ill, or are you unable to read? Sultan

I was merely making an observation, your head was up your arse Sultan

All of these are in TIO and there are many more, not to mention the bullying and crucifying of our Andy who hasn't a nasty bone in his body

Sally Redux

Oh dear, we were doing quite well there for a minute.