ON THE FUTURE…
By David Vance On June 30th, 2012So, I go away for a few weeks holiday, and when I get back I see that there has been a bit of disturbance in the ATW force. I think I am now up to date as to what has been going on. A few thoughts for you all;
1. When a blog site dedicated to political debate ends up talking about itself, that’s not a good sign. I do understand people feel passionately about issues and that is fine but such passion should be expressed as politely and with as little ad hominem as possible. When I read your expressions of anger directed at each other, I just feel a sense of hurt, and to be honest it de-motivates me. I do wish people either get along or if that is too much to ask just ignore each other.
2. We’re living in an age where social media is impacting in the blogosphere. This has implications for the future. I see blogs closing down or going into semi-retirement across the net. Why? Because it takes time to post an item whereas a tweet or a facebook takes about 30seconds. It’s the battle between consideration and spontaneity. I believe there should be space for both and so ATW will continue.
3. However ATW WILL be changing going forward. I will not post as much as I have – the pressure is simply too great. That said, I post more than most so I dare say the place will not look that differently to what it does now. As you know I have the Biased BBC website to maintain and when you combine that with my own growing media commitments, as Booker T put it, “Time is Tight”.
4. I have been planning to write a new book for years and despite a few starts found it impossible because of the time pressures on me. That’s changing. I have already started the draft of my second book and intend to complete by summer end. This is the same time format I used to write Unionism Decayed. I also intend it to be an Ebook, for digital download. If “50 Shades of Grey” can do it, so can I!
I want to thank all of you who come here, who honour me with your time, thoughts, contributions and suggestions. ATW has become an institution over the years and it strikes me most of us should be institutionalised! Those of you who know me will gather I am a very driven person and I do not willingly abandon something that has taken years of my life to build up.
So ATW will stay, I hope you will keep coming here, and above ALL I really really wish you would all try and be friendly. I can’t make you but I can ask you. I’m asking…
Very well said, David (points 1 and 2).
Good to see your experience as a father dealing with the unruly coming in handy yet again
Maybe a good start can be no swear words be permitted?
It is unhelpful, and diminishes any point or post from whoever is writing. From insulting my mother, to being accused of talking ‘bullshit’, even after I present FACTS which proves I am talking the truth, I get abused further. I get accused of turning every thread into an attack on irish nationalists, when all I am doing is responding to scurrilous claims against me and in some cases, impersonation.
I am a tolerable soul, but some on here obviously are not.
All I personally ask for is normal civil language to be used, and if you want to debate with me, I expect you to respect that basic request.
// and if you want to debate with me//
But who wants to debate with a self-obsessed automaton?
I usually try and remain light hearted on here and I very rarely get offended or upset by anything said to me. It just isn’t worth it. I wish everyone else would stop getting so personally annoyed by others. If you don’t like what soemone has written either respond or ignore them. Don’t get so emotionally upset by it and don;t seek to censor or ban them either. I do however agree with LU that swear words should not be used. They add nothing to the written comment and in my opinion only have a place as a verbal tool in the heat of the moment. Choosing to type a swear word is unnecessary.
David’s unbroken and virtually daily maintenance of this blog over so many years is a genuinly heroic feat and must be something of a record in the fast moving world of the blogosphere for which he deserves much praise and I look forward to his second book .
We can all get animated and we can all get heated but we shouldn’t seek to burn each other. Just keep things simmering and we should all be fine:)
we all have tempers and we all have points of view, I will be have myself, and I will abide not only by house rules but by the conscience and guidance of others. My own is not always the clearest view.
If you truly are backing off from the site I am greatly saddened, you have been a fabulous host and even though unless your post are in regard to terrorism I don’t comment on them, I do read them and find them most enlightening.
To the group I once again apologize for my share of the row.
David if you want me to bail out of the site please give me a call. You have my home number.
Noel,
I understand you feel a bit piqued after me embarassing your ignorance on a different thread, but is there really any need for all this bitterness?
If you do not want to debate with me, then don’t. Nobody is forcing you to.
I showed you the error of your post, and that is done and dealt with.
Now move on and enjoy yourself, I will not be offended if you are reluctant to engage with me again for fear of being cleaned again, but it shouldn’t stop you contributing.
All the best.
Noel think about the subject of the post, and then read your second comment. I ask you Why?
Colm: that swear words should not be used. They add nothing to the written comment and in my opinion only have a place as a verbal tool in the heat of the moment. Choosing to type a swear word is unnecessary.
Colm, on June 8th, 2012 at 10:13 pm Said:
http://www.atangledweb.org/?p=32689#comment-330420
Troll
You know full weell David does not want you to bail out of ATW. You shouldn’t even have to ask him that !
Petr
Where’s the contradiction ? A resourcefull individual can do all that without needing to swear !
Troll,
I send you a manly hug, and a hearty slap on the back.
You’ll be alright mate, keep on going and debate with vigour and the passion you always do and continue to contribute. If there were no arguments on here, wouldn’t it be pointless?
David is right about the battle for blogs v twitter, and the rest of the instant media tools.
On here, we can argue and fight, (nicely, or bad tempered, but only on a keyboard), and sometimes I know I wind up some, but I think now I have returned for a while, most posters can hopefully see my winding up for what it is.
I wouldn’t have a problem with anyone on here having a pint together and laughing about our differences.
That’s the way it should be, and joisting about whatever the subject is, is only for amusement, and on extremely rare occasions, educational.
ps, enjoyed lay down sally, haven’t heard it in years.
Is that an offer, LU? First round on you?
What about Maddens? Phantom has already indicated he’d quite like to visit, and sample the best Guinness in Belfast? What about yourself?
I agree with every word of LU’s last comment.
Guys
I want you ALL to stay.
And further to Seimi’s point, I am up for an ATW summit in Belfast if others fancy it.
Seconded, Colm, although far too often, the urge on here is towards a slap in the head, rather than a slap on the back
Seimi,
(see, even spelt your name right this time
)
You should know I wind you up, it took you a while, but I think eventually you got it.
My views are clear, and I think you and others need to not take things so personal. By all means have a lash when you have a bad day, etc, we all have pressures and stress, and sometimes, yes, it is good to let off a bit on here and get a ‘bite’ from someone, but the bad language is a real turn off for me.
As for having a pint, I’ll have to borrow a pair of swimming trunks or a raft…
If there is a beer summit in Belfast I might make the journey up myself.
I probably won’t be able to make a Belfast summit, but I’d like to do another London one some time and hopefully with David, our esteemed host able to come along.
Excellent, David
I’m sorry I missed the last one. I think G was there? In the Crown?
The Spaniard is another nice wee bar, with ‘wee’ being the operative word! On second thoughts, maybe it’s a bit TOO small to hold all the egos on here!
My God, LU, the Handshake last week may be nothing to this!
Just on a more, ummm…disturbing point…you need swimming trunks in order to drink? Shouldn’t you see a doctor about that?
Petr,
are you down south?
Colm,
are you in London?
I’ll be there next month passing through en route to a business trip to the far east. I might even buy you a drink.
(on expenses of course;))
Seimi,
probably the first time I have had a laugh from you. lol
Imagine if I did turn up with swimming trunks and a pair of goggles…now that would be funny.
don’t mention the handshake, or I will have to respond and then I’ll be accused of turning a nice thread into a nasty attack etc…
LU
Yes, in Wicklow.
‘Imagine if I did turn up with swimming trunks and a pair of goggles…’
Anyone know where I can order some Mindbleach?? That’s an image I need to purge…
Petr,
do you know the beehive? I stayed there years ago, nice place.
Seimi, I will wear flippers as well, and a snorkel outfit with one sock.
Just so you recognise me, and it will be on the left foot as a gesture of cross community reconcilliation.
btw, what does your name mean? (serious question)
LU
I’ve never been in the door of that place. Heard it’s decent alright.
Petr,
good food, and great stout
god I wish I could be there, love to share a pint face to face with each of you
Troll,
even if Phantom comes? lol
David – 50 Shades of Orange?
Sounds good, LU.
Troll, have you been to Ireland in the past?
I think we had this discussion a few years ago, LU (before all the, ahem, unpleasantness
)
Séimí (the correct spelling, but ATW, or rather WordPress, doesn’t allow for the insertion of accents or fadas) is just the shortened version of Séamus.
The Beehive in Wicklow sounds nice. Wicklow holds a particularly poignant place in my heart, for very personal reasons. I can’t drive through it, beautiful as it is, without feeling sad.
I think Troll should get a passport, and join Phantom for a PeacePint in Maddens
If there was a Wicklow summit, Troll and Phantom could stop by here first!
ah right, understand. I have a vague recollection from before.
are you a belfastian? or are you down south?
Petr,
do they sell guinness at glencree?
lol
‘are you a belfastian? or are you down south?’
Yes
is that yes for both?
I am proud to be a diplomat for today! a ‘Belfastian’ and ‘down south’ being used instead of taig from the town, or the free state lol
are you near to wicklow?
I am in Dublin in September for a conference and might even give some euros to the train company, and get to wicklow, if of course the euro is still existing …
My family are all from one of them, but I was born in the other, and raised back in the first one. Official Secrets Act and all that
Although, I do keep harping on about meeting in Maddens, which is in Belfast, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to work it out
right.
Say nothin’…
I’m off kickboxing. (don’t ask)
see you later.
Glencree doesn’t look like my kind of pub.
and no I have never had the opportunity to visit. I have family there, but that and bloodline are my only links to the place.
I have been to London but never had the opportunity to leave the Airport the entire 3 days I was there. It was all business.
I would love to visit NI, ROI, and GB. I’ve been to Germany and Japan, South Korea, the PI, and numerous places in South America never as tourist.
The only places I have indulged in leisure activities are all in North America and the surrounding Islands
Wow!! This civility is contageous.
Great to see you back David, hope all went well.
Would there be any chance of getting a Belfast summit organised for August? I’ll be back home and would love to have a jar and a yarn with you all face to face.
LU, in the spirit of reconcilliation, name me a time and place and the first three rounds are on me.
David
I am delighted with your comments.
I started leaving comments on this site (the only one I do leave comments on) last December but I got fed up reading the comments of others who were rude to others. Political debate is interesting and very important but consideration for others and their views should be the hallmark of civilised debate.
Perhaps, as you are going to blog less due to other work pressures, it might be good idea to open the site up to one or two others beyond the regular contributors.
I believe that this is one of the best political sites with enormous potential to influence ideas for those of us on the right. It is a pity to see a lack of respect for others and rudeness.
Keep up the good work and I might be encouraged to comment more often!
David, You have so many contributors whith whom I would like to show I agree / disagree with. Is there no way your site can be adapted to allow me to show that I agree / disagree with comments. I may not wish to comment myself but would like ‘if possible’ some way to indicate my support, or not, for each contributor.
Looks like I missed a big row. I have no curiousity about the details but it would be a shame if the people stopped coming here because you don’t often find a place with such a small group of contributors having such a diversity of views across such a wide range of topics.
Posting in places like this is about increasing your understanding of other peoples views and hoping they in turn will more fully understand yours. But when ego gets in the way it can become about just winning an argument. That’s when insults can start flying and that’s just a bore for those not directly involved.
We will have a US election this yearend the possible break up of the euro. I want to see what you all ave to say about these events and others as they unfold. By the way have you noticed we hardly ever talk about global warming any more.
David, these rows tend to break out when you are away. That is a tribute to your skills in keeping the place afloat. You make it look a lot easier than it is and if one thing should unite us all it is our gratitude for that.
Henry
you didn’t miss much, same ole same ole. Mostly my fault. But of I had help.
PS we don’t talk about Global Warming because there is none
Davy wants a thumbs up, thumbs down button… might be interesting. Would the platform support it?
that should read “but OF Course I had help”
Virgilius -
“I started leaving comments on this site (the only one I do leave comments on) last December but I got fed up reading the comments of others who were rude to others.”
I know how you feel.
I’m sure some people forget they’re on an open forum here which anyone can read. Most of the rudeness comes from people acting as if their conversation is private.
Beer summit in Belfast?!? If you give me enough lead time to book a flight, my body guard and I will come!
Jk about the body guard (I think) but serious about joining a Summit in Belfast – I’ll have to take off my flip-flops and sundress, buy some closed-toe shoes and a sweater or two…. but that, and a flight, could be arranged with enough time….
When were you thinking?
Patty,
I think Phantom may have mentioned September.
What’s the weather like in Belfast in September?
Honestly, not great! But Belfast is a safe city and a good place to visit. Ideally it would be better to come in June/July/August as the better weather would allow you to see the wonderful Antrim coast.
Hmm..would love to see the Antrim Coast…Ive seen some photos posted by David – rocky, wind swept, water churning – it looks beautiful
It really is. I’m sure our many Belfast-based contributors here would give you and yours a warm welcome and be very good tour guides.
The Antrim Coast is spectacular. If anyone’s going to be in Belfast in August I’d be happy to show them around.
David,
There.
I knew when ‘Dad’ got back, he would sort us all out!
I have to say I am really impressed with your plans for the future, with your book etc. I admire the fact that you have built up ATW and established it the way you have.
In a personal/political forum like ATW we have to acknowledge that what we share on this blog is more than just opinion swapping. It is like ‘cyber friendships’ and is quite unusual on the internet. Some of you actually do meet up, and personally I quite envy that. I would like to think that we all at some point will have the chance to do likewise here in the UK.
Good luck with it all David.
I’d also be happy to show people around if they come to Belfast. Plus, I know the place better than Paul!
ATW looks okay to me, if a little jaded at times, but that’s because, like everywhere in the UK & USA, the people feel impotent, and are deeply frustrated about their own Governments, and the way society is becoming progressively degraded by craven politicians.
It shows up in the comments here, but it does on EVERY blog I read nowadays.
ATW is no exception in this regard. The only difference being that the fuses are shorter here than elsewhere.
Ha! let the good times roll, as they surely will, pretty soon.
Guys
I would love to host an ATW summit in Belfast and perhaps if people would like to travel to it I will sort things out. Do let me know if this is what you would like.
I’ll nip over if I can make it.
I would love to host an ATW summit in Belfast and perhaps if people would like to travel to it I will sort things out. Do let me know if this is what you would like.
Roger that! Let’s meet in the Crown Bar, as last time, the best pub in Belfast. Alternatively, maybe the John Hewitt in Donegall Street? Both serve real ale.
If there is enough interest, I can make special provision. All those interested please let me know.
The timing can be adjusted to suit anyone travelling into Northern Ireland. This might be a great way to lift all spirits.
David,
frankly I would prefer London, but I know how expensive it can be. Perhaps if we could get some idea of how we could travel cheaply and board and lodge – also cheaply – we might get an idea of how many could make it from the mainland.
If we can get some idea of the financial practicalities, it could be a really great opportunity.
Have you heard back from Ernest yet? Hope he’s okay.
Peter,
Do they serve Aspergers Bitter?
A8
Unfortunately not
But both are great pubs. Look them up.
Peter,
Are you going to work with David on setting something up or will David delegate it to you?
Agit8ed
Ernest is fine, have been speaking to him, there is a tech hitch stopping him commenting which I will fix.
Glad to hear Ernest is okay. He doesn’t like me very much but I wish him well.
The Crown is a nice bar, and a must see for anyone visiting. Always busy, with nice nooks and very friendly staff.
The John Hewitt is a great bar too, opened by the Belfast Unemployment Resource Centre. They do the best selection of ales in town, including some locally produced ones, eg Belfast Blonde and Headless Dog.
However, because both bars tend to be busy almost constantly, perhaps they wouldn’t be ideal for a ‘summit’? Somewhere quieter, perhaps, might be better for a meet-up, with maybe a mini pub crawl to visit said hostelries on the evening’s agenda? Maddens could be just as busy, if not more so, given its size, and depending on the night, so might I suggest somewhere like the bar in Jury’s Inn for a meet-up? It’s only across the road from the Crown, but the lobby and bar space might prove handier for a group of strangers meeting up?
The Crown is a nice bar, and a must see for anyone visiting. Always busy, with nice nooks and very friendly staff.
The John Hewitt is a great bar too, opened by the Belfast Unemployment Resource Centre. Fairly busy too. They do the best selection of ales in town, including some locally produced ones, eg Belfast Blonde and Headless Dog.
However, because both bars tend to be busy almost constantly, perhaps they wouldn’t be ideal for a ‘summit’? Somewhere quieter, perhaps, might be better for a meet-up, with maybe a mini pub crawl to visit said hostelries on the evening’s agenda? Maddens could be just as busy, if not more so, given its size, and depending on the night, so might I suggest somewhere like the bar in Jury’s Inn for a meet-up? It’s only across the road from the Crown, but the lobby and bar space might prove handier for a group of strangers meeting up?
Damn double posts!
If we can organise a beer summt for mid August definitely count me in.
The Crown is indeed a damn fine bar but the John Hewitt is a bar where I could never feel completely comfortable. The possibility also the Duke of York could be taken into consideration, it’s a great place too. We’ve also got the option of Kelly’s Cellars, (Belfast’s oldest licensed hostelry),but that might be considered a bit “rowdy” for summit purposes.
My own opinion would be to choose Maddens, my spiritual home, as the venue but concede that it may be considered a bit too “green” for some of the attendees.
I suggested Maddens before, but, depending on the day of the summit, it might not be practical. I would suggest somewhere else to meet up first, then go round some of the other places as a mini tour, with Maddens included. No?
Kellys would be great to go to as well, of course.
As for Maddens being too ‘green’, you know yourself, P, the crowd in Maddens is, and always has been, mixed and very welcoming to newcomers.
I will be away from 4 – 18 August (the Baltic beckons), so hopefully we can fix a date when I will be here.
Still think the Crown is the best choice, real ale is the main issue for me, but it would be appealing to our visitors from GB. And it’s the only pub owned by the National Trust.
The Crown was used last time. I’m fine with that if others are. My only concern was space, but I suppose, in reality there’ll only be a handful of people there, so it’s not a big deal.
But maybe some of our more Monarchial attendees might have problems walking over the Crown at the entrance Peter
I’ll be back home from the 7th – 21st of August so if it could be organised sometime then it would be great.
My leave starts on the 6th, and finishes on the 20th, Paul. Couldn’t have planned it better
How’s everyone doin? my young ‘un has done nothing but talk about your young ‘un’s imminent arrival
Saturday 18th August 6.00pm at the Crown? I’m back from Sweden on 17th.
That would be good for me. Paul? Any other takers?
Peter -
“Still think the Crown is the best choice … And it’s the only pub owned by the National Trust.”
Not any more.
That puts me in a quandary: either forego a great pint whenever I stay at Langdale or pretend I’m a commie.
when you all gather pull up an empty stool for me and place a shot of vodka there. I’ll toast to all of your health’s in spirit if not in person.
Oh and for gods sake, someone take pictures.
Getting back to the substance of David’s post, it seems to me that there are several elements involved in the recent “disturbance of the force” on ATW. I hope that David is not under the impression that this disturbance has largely been caused by a dispute between two American contributors, because that forms only a very minor aspect of the recent disturbance. The real trouble on here over the last few weeks has been caused solely by the idiotic, obnoxious and deliberately provocative burblings of one person in particular.
OK, I’ll stop being cryptic and say what I mean: I’m talking about “Logical Unionist” and about his nasty, spiteful mentality. He has infected several threads with his stupid, bigoted broken record [click] broken record [click] broken record [click] broken record [click] ramblings. It doesn’t matter whether you are a Republican or a Unionist, his rantings are laced with bile and designed to provoke, and to bring out the worst in every commenter.
I had massive trouble with this bloody fool back in 2010 when I was a contributor on ATW, and I had to completely shut down one comment thread which he infested with his puerile nonsense. And here he is again two years later, still causing the same hassle and overall bad blood, on here.
It’s not his political view that is so obnoxious, it’s just the imbecilical way in which the childish fool conducts himself. He has no respect for anyone, and he delights in insulting people, with stupid, childish comments about (for example) the Euro football contest. In short, he’s an immature berk, and he has a disruptive influence on ATW without adding anything positive.
That’s just my opinion. If anyone else agrees, I’d be grateful if you would indicate so, so that David knows that it’s not just me saying this. Thanks.
I agree with Tom. If LU can’t debate with a minimum of civility he should get tossed.
He’s not even debating anything.
There are a number of unionists here who argue their case on various issues well. LU adds nothing new to any unionist argument. He’s a troublemaker and a stalker, who is not logical and might not even be a unionist. He seems like a stick figure pushed out there to discredit unionism.
“He doesn’t like me very much but I wish him well.”
HE doesn’t like you very much…?
Hmmm.
Must be an age/generation thing.
BTW,
Did I ever tell you I am 66 going on 67??
Saturday 18th August 6.00pm at the Crown is absolutely perfect for me.
Regarding the substance of the thread I think that TT is right on the money.
Having been the target of his bile on numerous occasions I find his refusal to engage, ignoring of facts provided, deliberate patronising tone, reufusal to verfy his outrageous claims, blatant sock pupetteering and the general nah, nah, nah playgroundesque mentality of his comments have the potential to toxically infect every thread he wanders into.
My own policy of late has been to largely ignore his attention seeking, (he admits above that a lot of his stuff is to deliberately wind people up), which I suppose we can all be guilty of to differing degrees, however I disagree with Mahons above when he suggests tossing him. LU, when he engages civilly, has shown that he can be witty and articulate, but I for one enjoy also when he resorts to his infantile ramblings as, on a public forum, it totally discredits the cause which he supposedly embraces.
Tom,
you have just exemplified exactly what David was alluding to. Resorting to insults and foul language to a fellow contributor is unwelcome and unjust. If you cannot counter my comments with reason or valid points, then it is a sign of low intelligence that you like others on here resort to playground name calling. For the record, I do wind people up, but my undercurrent is one of fact, and not conjecture. On every thread I use factual information to expose the hypocrisy of the many nationalists on here, and enjoy watching many take the bait and expose the narrow minded bigotry so inherent in their lack of argument.
As for phantom and mahons, you both are to be pitied, rather than laughed at. Phantom resorts to impersonation and posting false comments, and mahons is still bitter about being cleaned on another thread, where I provided a link to prove my point was correct and factual.
c’est la vie…
Paul, I appreciate the recognition, but I also enjoy asserting my points with you, as normally at least you do not resort to foul language. That, in itself is something I warmly appreciate.
As for ‘tossing me’, I think it isn’t any of your responsibility, and David can at anytime make that call. In the meantime, I will continue unabated and forcibly and robustly make my points, whether you lot like it or not.
If you don’t like it, then engage and tell me why, otherwise, don’t bother insulting me or my Mother, or anything else.
Next!…
Behave, and show respect, and no one will have a problem with you, regardless of what your views may be.
You should listen to yourself Phantom, perhaps starting by not altering comments, or even worse, impersonating posters.
How lower can you go?
Have a nice Sunday
Tom,
“That’s just my opinion. If anyone else agrees, I’d be grateful if you would indicate so, so that David knows that it’s not just me saying this. Thanks.”
We all have different tolerances. LU doesn’t push my buttons like some other people can do.
I acknowledge that it is a mistake to label people, and I have (wrongly)done so from time to time. To prefix with “You are behaving/talking like a *****” is better!
But if you find yourself reacting, then the ‘button pusher’ has won.
Agi,
as long as a certain lad in Iran doesn’t push any buttons, we’ll be alright…
He did not attack you personally and childishly ( making fun of his name, for gods sake ) the way you did, repeatedly. He has been respectful to his allies and to those whose views he opposes.
You have a lot to learn from him.
Phantom, are you talking to me?
Or are you drunk again?
Happy Sunday.
Don’t forget to go to chapel.
must be whiskey today…lol
It seems like the level of decorum on this thread is in danger of beginning to slip. It’s a pity, I was enjoying the peace.
Paul, I don’t even know if he is talking to me/himself/or Troll. lol
LU – He could only have been talking to you!
petr, how very dare you.
Seimi, the suggestion of the bar of Jury’s and having a mini pub crawl taking in all the places mentioned sounds great and is probably one of the best ideas you’ve ever had
My young ‘un can’t wat to see your young ‘un again and is constantly talking, (even more than normal), about it
Speaking of young young ‘uns; How’s the youngest young ‘un getting on? It’s been a while since I’ve seen him.
Paul,it’s even better than that idea I had about wearing my underwear on the outside to save on laundry bills
I didn’t think your young ‘un could talk any more! There aren’t enough hours in the day!
The youngest young ‘un is doing great, thanks. Talking away, in Irish and English, and loved by one and all! His membership to the Junior Gunners was renewed a few days ago, and he’s gonna need the new season shirt soon
All well and good a chara. So it’s only his membership of Casement to be updated then?
He’s an honorary member of Casement, that’s why his christening party was held there
He’ll also be a member of the Roddy’s
Why am I not surprised in the slightest?
I had a particularly fine couple of pints in Maddens the other night. A friend was over from Canada, and she’s become a regular associate member of the Tuesday Club
Logical Unionist,
I’ve just read your [01/07/12 10:31] reply to my [01/07/12 02:00] comment, and am thinking it over.
Alright, first off, I will “man-up” and apologise to you, for calling you an “immature berk” and whatever other ad-hominem insults I threw at you in my comment. Regardless of the points I was making, you are right to say that I should not have “called you names”, and I unreservedly apologise to you for that, and I hereby take back the silly names I called you. I mean that genuinely, I’m not just saying it in order to “save face”. I hope that you find this an acceptable apology, and that it undoes any personal hurt which I may have caused you. If you find it insufficient, please say so, and I’ll consider a further response.
Having said that, and recognising that I ought not to attack you personally but rather attack your arguments, I want to add:
It’s not so much a question of WHAT you say and argue, but rather the WAY in which you argue your case, which people find so objectionable on here.
For example, you delighted in belittling the Irish football team’s efforts in Euro 2012, calling them “the UK’s ‘B’ team, all that sort of thing. You do have a propensity for bringing your opinions on Northern Ireland into every and any comment thread, and it really gets up peoples’ noses. There are (somewhat unwritten) guidelines for engaging with people on blogsites such as this, and you do seem to have a few things to learn in that respect. You really do seem to have a bit of an attitude, your attitude being to just “barge in” without really communicating. A lot of people on here find that your attitude rubs them up the wrong way.
(I hope that this is a constructive, non-personal criticism). Just think it over.
Way to go Tom.
A gentle answer turns away wrath..