OT - new one on me

[ramAnag]

It seems, some on the site simply cannot refuse the opportunity to have a dig at an "opponent". I refer to the post immediately above in this thread, penned by the member. I rest my case.

Oh for goodness sake, GP…read what I’ve put and especially the first sentence.
1) I don’t regard AF as an ‘opponent’.
2) No one on here is beyond objective criticism of what they say or how they project themselves, least of all the ‘moderator’.
3) You are arguably the last person on here to put yourself in a position to criticise others when it comes to stirring and digging.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Oh for goodness sake, GP…read what I’ve put and especially the first sentence.
1) I don’t regard AF as an ‘opponent’.
2) No one on here is beyond objective criticism of what they say or how they project themselves, least of all the ‘moderator’.
3) You are arguably the last person on here to put yourself in a position to criticise others when it comes to stirring and digging.

I was proving your point from the first lines of your post. Calm down

[ramAnag]

I was proving your point from the first lines of your post. Calm down

You failed.

[swaledale]

o

That's one way of looking at it, however, as a member of this site for more than 15 years and having seen it lose many members for one reason or another it is my desire to see it continue for many a year. Consequently, and in this respect, I do not consider ignoring members posts will help in that aim as I also do not consider bitchiness, persistent point scoring and demeaning other members is of any value to the longevity of the site.
Hence my desire, like MA, to see such banality end.

Membership has declined indeed withered or participation stopped on many sites on this Forum, the reasons will be varied, but I doubt arguments on OT threads are the main reason, apathy and the existence of more immediate, quicker social media/forums are most likely the cause.

I wasn't in any case suggesting ignoring members posts per se, but if a thread is OT and political in nature, that's easy to avoid reading if it doesn't appeal to any Forum member. But any poster is entitled to respond to posts that are untrue, inaccurate or offensive and its often difficult in the face of an unwillingness to face facts to remain completely calm and detached. The fact these OT political threads seem to generate the most posts is something to be considered though, whereas on football the debate often dies quickly if it even starts and threads can be quite short.

In respect of football threads I would agree, there will always be differing opinions but debate should be kept civil.