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[Stripey]

you should perhaps add something to the t&c's about respecting diversity of opinion. I've noticed several users who are incredibly intolerant of a difference of opinion and have a habit of disrupting threads by telling people to shut up, calling them names and accusing them of trolling etc if they simply don't like someones point of view. It doesn't really make for an atmosphere condusive to lively debate, and I'm sure puts people off posting.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Stripey

you should perhaps add something to the t&c's about respecting diversity of opinion. I've noticed several users who are incredibly intolerant of a difference of opinion and have a habit of disrupting threads by telling people to shut up, calling them names and accusing them of trolling etc if they simply don't like someones point of view. It doesn't really make for an atmosphere condusive to lively debate, and I'm sure puts people off posting.

Yep, the rules are due for an update. We're going to be adding some new rules in about trolling and the importance of constructive discussion as well. These intolerant users won't be on these forums for much longer, don't you worry.

[Stripey]

Originally Posted by Neil

Yep, the rules are due for an update. We're going to be adding some new rules in about trolling and the importance of constructive discussion as well. These intolerant users won't be on these forums for much longer, don't you worry.

It's about time, I've really had enough of the minority of intolerant, abusive users on this site who won't let people put forward a point of view that deviates from their own without resorting to name calling and accusations of trolling.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Stripey

It's about time, I've really had enough of the minority of intolerant, abusive users on this site who won't let people put forward a point of view that deviates from their own without resorting to name calling and accusations of trolling.

So I take it I can remove your account then?

[Stripey]

Originally Posted by Neil

So I take it I can remove your account then?

Ah right, so if someone starts a thread about a topic, and I, amongst others, post my feelings on the topic, and then someone who doesn't like my opinion calls me an arse and tells me to fuck off instead of just making a meaningful counterpoint in a civil manner or choosing not to post, it's not him that's the troll, it's _me_ who's in the wrong? Don't you think that just discourages people from speaking their mind?

[Frosty Jack]

Originally Posted by Stripey

Ah right, so if someone starts a thread about a topic, and I, amongst others, post my feelings on the topic, and then someone who doesn't like my opinion calls me an arse and tells me to fuck off instead of just making a meaningful counterpoint in a civil manner or choosing not to post, it's not him that's the troll, it's _me_ who's in the wrong? Don't you think that just discourages people from speaking their mind?

Lets be flat out honest here, with this thread you always were referring to the reaction that some of your posts get. Maybe it's not always just you, but mostly it is. And I know you know why. You're easily intelligent enough to know that the language in which you couch your views will always provoke strong reactions from other users because they take it as intentional offence.
Yet you don't see this as trolling. In a way you're right - it's not trolling, because you are often expressing a perfectly valid point of view. But, purely because the way you express that valid view is very apparently intended to annoy and offend, it could also be said that you actually are one of the worst trolls here.
I would suggest that it is possibly not the reaction of others that is at fault, but it could in fact be your posting 'style' that is not conducive to lively debate.
Personally I really wish you would at least consider taking this on board, because I think you have the ability to contribute a huge amount to the site. But ironically all you're doing at the moment is inducing the very reactions you're complaining about here.
Express your views reasonably and you will hopefully get reasonable responses.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Stripey

Ah right, so if someone starts a thread about a topic, and I, amongst others, post my feelings on the topic, and then someone who doesn't like my opinion calls me an arse and tells me to fuck off instead of just making a meaningful counterpoint in a civil manner or choosing not to post, it's not him that's the troll, it's _me_ who's in the wrong? Don't you think that just discourages people from speaking their mind?

I'm sorry. Are we looking at the same thread? Because I didn't read anyone calling you telling you to "fuck off", but I did read you posting:

"...all televised sport should be put on some obscure pay-per-view cable channel with porn in the ad-breaks so that the drooling, bloated, 3-fingered cross-eyed pie eating unwashed who want it can be satisfied without clogging up the airwaves and wasting licensepayers money on such completely inconsequential shit."

You knowing quite well that the majority of people not only on this web site, but in general, like watching televised sport of some kind of another. There is only one person who stopped a perfectly civil discussion carrying on (until we intervened) and that was you, as per usual, by deliberately posting this inflammatory post trying to get a rise out of everyone else. It's getting all too predictable, tiresome and won't be allowed to continue for much longer.

[Stripey]

Originally Posted by Neil

I'm sorry. Are we looking at the same thread? Because I didn't read anyone calling you telling you to "fuck off", but I did read you posting:

"...all televised sport should be put on some obscure pay-per-view cable channel with porn in the ad-breaks so that the drooling, bloated, 3-fingered cross-eyed pie eating unwashed who want it can be satisfied without clogging up the airwaves and wasting licensepayers money on such completely inconsequential shit."

You knowing quite well that the majority of people not only on this web site, but in general, like watching televised sport of some kind of another. There is only one person who stopped a perfectly civil discussion carrying on (until we intervened) and that was you, as per usual, by deliberately posting this inflammatory post trying to get a rise out of everyone else. It's getting all too predictable, tiresome and won't be allowed to continue for much longer.

If there was a thread about eating meat (I am a carnivore) and someone who was passionate about being vegeterian said something along similar lines, i.e people who eat meat are cruel sickos who support abusive farming practices and are a disgrace to humanity etc, most normal people would say, look, I think you're wrong, and here are my reasons why. Most normal people accept that is what discourse involves, especially on the internet where you should fully *expect* to encounter people with differing views.

Sadly there are just users on here who apparently cannot tolerate that kind of diversity of opinion without resorting to calling people names and accusing anyone who disagrees with their, or what they perceive as being the popularly held opinion, of being a troll. I mean after all why try to change someones mind or put your own point of view across in a sensible and civil manner that creates an interesting debate when you can just call them an arse.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Stripey

I mean after all why try to change someones mind or put your own point of view across in a sensible and civil manner that creates an interesting debate when you can just call them an arse.

As you've proven time and time again, you're incapable, either intentionally or otherwise, of partaking in a discussion in a civil manner a lot of the time. I would have thought that you might have discovered that from other people's replies to your posts that you would have realised that you've crossed a line and caused offence. However, this unfortunately never appears to be case.

We know for a fact that new users don't post on this web site and others have in fact stopped posting because of people like you. I now have to weigh up whether it is in the best interests of this online community to continue to tolerate members like you and decide whether what you are posting is actually damaging the quality of discussion rather than making any meaningful contribution. It's getting close to the crunch time now.

[Stripey]

Originally Posted by Neil

As you've proven time and time again, you're incapable, either intentionally or otherwise, of partaking in a discussion in a civil manner a lot of the time. I would have thought that you might have discovered that from other people's replies to your posts that you would have realised that you've crossed a line and caused offence. However, this unfortunately never appears to be case.

Look, I'm a confident and expressive person and I make no apologies for that, and neither should anyone else who sticks up for themselves and what they believe in. I think you'll find that I'm actually at the receiving end of a lot more abuse than what you and some others seem to (wrongly) perceive me as having dished out.