The best thing about this place is..

[Stouffer]

..all the dudes that have started posting in the last year.

Strength to strength.

You are all grreat.

GF Power.

[Section_31]

Agreed mate, some top newcomers this year.

[Ezekiel 25:17]

Yeah but at times its been real shit, loads of cliques have formed aswell and one or two forumites are like messiah figures. Aside from all that I still find daily amusement on here and there are some top lads.

[Thants]

Originally Posted by Ezekiel 25:17 Yeah but at times its been real shit, loads of cliques have formed aswell and one or two forumites are like messiah figures. Aside from all that I still find daily amusement on here and there are some top lads.

There have always been cliques.

[bigredruss]

some days the GF really makes me laugh

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Ezekiel 25:17 Yeah but at times its been real shit, loads of cliques have formed aswell and one or two forumites are like messiah figures. Aside from all that I still find daily amusement on here and there are some top lads.

Really? I don't see that unless we're thinking of different things. To me, a clique is a group that delierately tries to exclude everyone else and I can't think of any group like that. There are various groups this year who've now met in the real world, but they never seem to be cliquey to me. As for the messiah thing, I can only think of people like Remmie, NP and aws who get regular praise from others. Is that what you mean? If so, it's hardly their fault that they're good lads, is it? Again, we're maybe at crossed purposes, but to me Messiah means some sort of swell head giving it the big 'un all the time. I don't see anyone who fits that description.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Thants There have always been cliques.

Who do you mean (because I'm struggling on this one)?

[Thants]

Originally Posted by Paul Who do you mean (because I'm struggling on this one)?

The old gang. I'm not saying it's bad, it's good to have a wide-range of people. I dont wish to go into names as the thread could go nasty and it's Christmas.

[Kopite]

Originally Posted by Thants The old gang. I'm not saying it's bad, it's good to have a wide-range of people. I dont wish to go into names as the thread could go nasty and it's Christmas.

I agree with Thants 100%.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Thants The old gang. I'm not saying it's bad, it's good to have a wide-range of people. I dont wish to go into names as the thread could go nasty and it's Christmas.

Ah - maybe you mean Chris. Chris has always been a little acidic on here (I don't know why, really - maybe it's just his sense of humour). I was always a little wary of him until I met him a few times this year and discovered he is so unlike his forum persona, it's untrue. To be honest, I'm not a fan of anyone being aggressive/antisocial, but there are loads of people on here who are often both. Most seem like good eggs when the hackles aren't up though.

I also think it's very easy to pigeonhole people. Take thechap, for example. Initially, I thought he was needlessly sparky until I realised that he's often forced into a defensive position for his views by a dozen or so people all taking him on at the same time. His views are not so unacceptable or extreme as people think, I reckon. He often starts with a perfectly acceptable stance (often not the same as mine, granted) and then ends up saying more extreme stuff as each side cranks up the hyperbole to "win" an unwinnable argument. It strikes me that sometimes people are too competitive when debating political opinions. I find it quite interesting to try and see the opposing perspective as it can sometimes strengthen or even alter my own views. It seems to me that others are quite dogmatic and unyielding to the point of caricature.

[Dirk]

What's hyperbolic about finding surprise sex(rape or molestation), the death penalty, the expulsion of asylum seekers and other such chestnuts offensive? Nobody forces him to say what he says, he's a grown person with his own opinions that, like we all do, possesses the ability to say what he wants when he wants, otherwise offensive or not. I'd mainly bit my tongue until recently when it came to The Chap but I find it increasingly difficult to do that when he continually peddles such bigoted and sickening shit.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Dirk What's hyperbolic about finding surprise sex(rape or molestation), the death penalty, the expulsion of asylum seekers and other such chestnuts offensive? Nobody forces him to say what he says, he's a grown person with his own opinions that, like we all do, possesses the ability to say what he wants when he wants, otherwise offensive or not. I'd mainly bit my tongue until recently when it came to The Chap but I find it increasingly difficult to do that when he continually peddles such bigoted and sickening shit.

Do you think he actually believes all that extreme stuff? Maybe I'm just naive, but I don't - especially that "surprise sex" stuff. I did find that unpleasant, but then I also found most things on Remmie's sick gag thread to be the same. The difference is thechap is just being a little drier with his humour (I think).

Also you've misrepresented his views on asylum there, Dave. What you've written makes it sound like he wants to kick everyone out. As far as I can tell, he's never said anything of the sort. Being anti-immigration is not, in itself, a bad thing. When it's linked to racism, it most certainly is but thechap has never given the slightest hint of being racist. Also, whilst the death penalty is something most people in this country are against, there a millions who still believe in it. It did exist in living memory for many, after all.

I just think thechap likes pushing other people's buttons.

[Kopite]

Originally Posted by Paul I also think it's very easy to pigeonhole people. Take thechap, for example. Initially, I thought he was needlessly sparky until I realised that he's often forced into a defensive position for his views by a dozen or so people all taking him on at the same time. His views are not so unacceptable or extreme as people think, I reckon. He often starts with a perfectly acceptable stance (often not the same as mine, granted) and then ends up saying more extreme stuff as each side cranks up the hyperbole to "win" an unwinnable argument. It strikes me that sometimes people are too competitive when debating political opinions. I find it quite interesting to try and see the opposing perspective as it can sometimes strengthen or even alter my own views. It seems to me that others are quite dogmatic and unyielding to the point of caricature.

It's the same on all forums Paul. I made the mistake of missing out mentioning the Russians in a thread on WW2 on YNWA and was subject to a torrent of abuse from one of the posters on there. It was a genuine mistake on my part.

It seems there are a couple of posters on here who read what they want to read and then jump in twisting what has actually been posted to suit their agenda.

I don't agree with some of Moschops politics, but at least he is willing to debate and doesn't resort to questioning one's intelligence or twisting what has been posted. Others should take note.

[Kopite]

Originally Posted by Paul Do you think he actually believes all that extreme stuff? Maybe I'm just naive, but I don't - especially that "surprise sex" stuff. I did find that unpleasant, but then I also found most things on Remmie's sick gag thread to be the same. The difference is thechap is just being a little drier with his humour (I think). Also you've misrepresented his views on asylum there, Dave. What you've written makes it sound like he wants to kick everyone out. As far as I can tell, he's never said anything of the sort. Being anti-immigration is not, in itself, a bad thing. When it's linked to racism, it most certainly is but thechap has never given the slightest hint of being racist. Also, whilst the death penalty is something most people in this country are against, there a millions who still believe in it. It did exist in living memory for many, after all. I just think thechap likes pushing other people's buttons.

I was going to post the same Paul. I don't recall him ever being racist.

[Dirk]

The Chap isn't bright enough to do a Remmie or a Noos. He believes what he writes and, whether he does or does not believe it, I have the right to be offended by it. Evil prospers when good men do nothing. Some of the shite he peddles touches on issues that I hold to be deeply personal. Btw, I haven't read the sick joke thread because I knew I would find some of it offensive.