General Chat

I'd rather be damned any day Carol ;) Hi Sally I like the threads where people get a bit passionate about their opinions - all helps you to see different perspectives:) That surprises me, Maggie:) I know you've got very strong opinions and thought you were very eloquent and just said what you wanted to - didn't think you planned so carefully! I do sometimes think that people are looking to take offence and it can happen however well you word something:)

Not at all, everyone expresses themself''s different, as individual's we all have are own opinion's, Lil

i wouldn't like to think that anyone comes on these boards with the sole intention of upsetting or offending others, what i would urge people to remember is that what you get on here is just words, and sometimes words without tone or body language are easily misinterpreted.

My thoughts exactly, Len I'm not sure what's been happening either Christine:) I sort of agree with you;) I can respect people having different viewpoints even if I think they're wrong (mostly lol) but I think life is too short for letting things fester when you think something needs saying! But if you're the sort of person who can let things go over your head and not rumble away, that must be very good for your peace of mind:) Good job we are all different;)

I love a good debate David, but I always say my piece face to face.....so that I can see the reaction to what I am saying.....that is why I find it difficult on here and would not generally involve myself in anything that could be misconstrued.......

Well said Christine, take it from someone who knows just how short life could be. Having had an out of body experience many years ago and knocking at the perverbiale door makes you realize just whats worth sweating over and what isn't. Agree to disagree, look on the bright side, and don't sweat the small stuff. It may sound cheesy but until you've been at deaths door you don't always see the colours just the black and white.

I think it's a bit sad when peeps don't seem to care whether what their post contains offends someone or not. We all need to remember sometimes that not everyone has met each other on here, & also that we should stop & think whether we would talk to 'Real life' friends in the same way as we do on here. I for one am very careful to try to make my posts as inoffensive as possible, & if I don't like what someone says I have the self-control to be able to restrain myself from replying in an offensive way. :0))) Joan

I agree with the point of letting things go over your head - this is what I do - I'm not here to argue, although I could if I had to - I am here to be light-hearted and to meet like-minded people......

I know i have offended, i did just the other day, but mine was an opinion posting.......not aimed at anyone. i try not to offend, life is far too short, as well i know. But some times, we cannot do right for doing wrong.

Christine - BRAVO, well said. and totally agree.

Too right Christine (about not seeing the twinkle) We need emoticons!!!! :O) maggie

Words of Wisdom Christine.......you put it in a nutshell, the twinkle in the eye.......exactly so........and by the way, I have got rid of the fleas, but will return the comb when I have de-loused the cat.......

I know what you mean, Izzy but on here, words are all we have to judge each other on really. Agreed Lil Carol - I think a bit like that too. If everything is too planned and thought out it can lose it's genuine quality. Hi Joan I don't think anyone's saying they don't *care* if they offend people - more that if you express a belief or an opinion then it's almost inevitable that someone will take offence and there's not much you can do about it. I think I'm very much the same on here as I am in real life - I think what I think and I say it if it's appropriate to give my opinion (or if I think it is;)) The trouble is, if we all hold back on voicing our opinions on things - both on here and in life generally - doesn't it make for a very bland life? Discussion, debate and disagreement all have their place in shaping our thoughts, our perceptions and the way we deal with people generally.

difference of opinion,and the misinterpretation of text,am i joking,am i angry,am i smiling/laughing.am i texting etc etc. i`ve been on the end of unintentionally hurting the feelings of my partner when phone texting as it is hard sometimes to interpret the way it should sound. derek

That's so true Derek, you cannot use enough words to give the full meaning of what you want to express, and if you are in a hurry anyway, it can so easily be misinterpreted..... Also with texting, the grammar goes to pot, and a word or comma misplaced, can alter the whole sense of what is being said......

Hi David, People don't seem to worry about offending me so why should I worry about offending them? If someone has an opinion with which I disagree I have a right to say so, just as they have the right to disagree with how I feel. If, in stating their opinions, people get their facts wrong I also have the right to point that out. As they do if I have the wrong information. No one has the right to make personal attacks on me or I on them. I have never had a nasty pm so I'm not sure what they are about but I also prefer it if people voice their opinions in the open. I know many are afraid to do so because I *do* hear a lot about that in pms. If you have strong opinions and you voice them in an open forum you can expect others to disagree with you. If you don't like that then don't add to the debating threads. There are people on GR I've known a long time with whom I will never agree over politics but I like and respect them as people. I expect them to disagree with my opinions, as I do with theirs but I certainly don't take it personally. I'm about to enter my fourth year as a member of GR/GC and I have enjoyed many debates on here and I expect to continue to do so. Gwynne

I have trouble finding the right words but would hate to think i have offended somone,and i have been the one being got at,but not even replyed to the thread even when its not true because the thought of hurting someone would be a nightmare so im the one getting hurt,on thread,on pm,on text, If i posted somthing i thought might offend i always say ,if this offends i will delete,

Thanks to everyone who added:) Is there anything we don't agree on, Gwynne? lol. Oh yeh, Bohemian Rhaopsody ;))

............. and Imagine. Can I help it if you have poor musical taste? ;-} Gwynne

Hi David firstly yes you do come across on here as you do in 'life', striaghtforward an honest!! was goign to say something else but wasn't suitable... Tho I do tend to think twice before posting on most peoples threads, if I don't know them. I tend to be a bit flippant and realise that people i haven't met won't realise this, and it doesn't always come across as flippant on here just rude.... so in conclusion I'm just rude to those i know ( and those who'll get the chance to clump me one at the next meet cos I've offended them LOL)