It was fun while it lasted..............

[deuces wild]

......but it is clearly time for me to move on folks.

I came here to enjoy myself, meet some folks on the other side of the pond, learn about your culture and to get computer help from the experts here.

During that time I have noticed the number of anti American/anti Bush threads increase. I either participated in them or ignored them.

The problem now is that they are constant.....3 or 4 just today.

Some folks here are fixated on the United States....almost like a pen*s envy thing. Never a nice word....just jokes about us and bashing us. Always saying in the end that you like Americans. Eh?

Yep, I know we have our problems and I do not support everything we do. But it is getting old folks. I don't come here to read people constantly bash the Country I live in and make fun of the President who leads it.

I would suggest that a "USA and Bush Bashing" room be started so as to consolidate them in one neat area of the forum

It must be nice to live in such a perfect world on the other side of the pond. I cannot remember the last time I read any discussions abou the economic or social problems you are having over there. Utopia.

I am not the only American here who feels this way. Keep it up and you may soon be losing more of us.

I have made friends here and I am sad to leave you.

So carry on, I am sure Bush and the US made some mistake today that you can jump on.

[nellie2]

I hope you will reconsider DW as we have enjoyed your input.

It is easy to criticise from the outside... all world leaders take their knocks.. Mr Bush more than most, probably because he is the leader of the worlds most powerful country and is therefore under scrutiny the whole time.

It isn't a reflection on you or on your wonderful country... it's just politics. Everyone likes to have a dig, whether it is at Mr Bush or at our Tone or the president of France... it is easy when you are safe and secure in the knowlege that you will never be elected to lead the country and therefore will never have to put your opinions into practice. And I use the word 'your' collectively. :blush:

[sapins]

It's a shame you have to leave but I have to agree with you 100%

I am English but I left to live in France nearly 17 years ago. You could not pay me to move back the the UK.

I too came here to learn a bit more about computers and also to read and post a few jokes to lighten up a little, the anti American thing has gone on long enough, time to call a halt, and before anyone tells me I'm taking it too seriously and it's only a bit of fun, don't bother. Oh! in addition, you can keep all the anti French jokes as well.

[andsome]

Sorry to see you both go, BUT. We British take our fair share of knocks too. The Aussies love to knock the poms, the French love to knock the roast beefs, and the Americans send us all their awful TV programmes. Sure bush has taken a bashing , but so has Blair. Politicians like the rewards, they must also expect the brickbats. The point is that the big thing that we pride ourselves on, is that we can laugh at ourselves. I hope that you will both reconsider.

[CurlyWhirly]

Very sorry to hear that you are leaving us Deuces Wild.

It's a real shame :(

[nellie2]

I don't think sapins intends to go anywhere... at least I hope not!

Both DW and Sapins make a good point.

if you want to have a fair, frank and balanced political discussion then that is what the debating chamber is for.

It's ok to laugh at ourselves.... but that isn't what is being discussed here.

The issue is the constant digs at the way other people lead their lives, I would hope that we are a tolerant society, but I have to admit I'm not seeing a lot of evidence of that on these boards lately. :(

[Scarecrow Man]

Dueces, this is very sad news.

You may not have noticed, but the brits do thier fair share of B(liar) bashing as well.

I tend to come to this forum to help people with computer problems. I tend to stay away from the Lounge and Joke Board forums, because I just can't get caught up in a topic as I am usually on and off for days at a time.

Every country has thier fair share of bad leaders. Canada is not exempt from this at all. We are just too quiet to get noticed as often.

The US is one of the most prominent countries in the world, and with all the recent happenings, more focus has been put on them than other countries. You will notice more people voicing thier opinions about things they feel are not right. We moderators do our best to keep it safe and fair for everyone, but we are also not here to censor your opinions.

I hope you re consider.

P.S. Sapins, I love the french, just dislike Quebec! :P

[Chris]

Stay!

You don't have to view the off topics areas, this site is not an off topic discusion area, it's to do compute things. At least help people out in the other forums and take no notice of the people who have helped make your decision.

You can also collapse this off-topic are so you'll never see any posts...[well take a visit to FR and SL]

Also you can ignore members: Manage your ignored users

[edbanger]

Members are allowed their own opinions on Bush and the US, just as they are on any other politician or country.

This forum would be a poorer place if everyone agreed.

The US is one of the most prominent countries in the world, and with all the recent happenings, more focus has been put on them than other countries. You will notice more people voicing thier opinions about things they feel are not right. We moderators do our best to keep it safe and fair for everyone, but we are also not here to censor your opinions.

It will be a sad day when people will no longer be able voice their opinions either for or against a topic.

Some of the members on here constantly snipe at Blair and the Labour government, but their supporters are still on here.

[andsome]

Members are allowed their own opinions on Bush and the US, just as they are on any other politician or country.

This forum would be a poorer place if everyone agreed.

The US is one of the most prominent countries in the world, and with all the recent happenings, more focus has been put on them than other countries. You will notice more people voicing thier opinions about things they feel are not right. We moderators do our best to keep it safe and fair for everyone, but we are also not here to censor your opinions.

It will be a sad day when people will no longer be able voice their opinions either for or against a topic.

Some of the members on here constantly snipe at Blair and the Labour government, but their supporters are still on here.

I fully agree, but still hope that DW will reconsider. The important thing in any debate is to appreciate the fact that we are all entitled to our views, and our opinions on different subjects should NOT be taken personally. I dislike it when someone snaps and gets personal because they do not like someone else's point of view. Long live debate. Personally I find it difficult to respect more than a very few politicians. (Yes there are a few). I think that most of them are in it for personal gain, and gain for their friends and colleagues. Witness the way that contracts are handed out. Mustn't get off topic though, lets just agree to disagree on MANY subjects.

[Thos]

Can I add my voice to those asking DW not to leave. There is a lot of Bush and Blair bashing but we do need reasoned opinions from both sides.

I haven't been a member for long but in that time I have come to value DW's comments, most of which I have agreed with, and will be sorry not to be able to read them in future.

Thos.

[nellie2]

Yes members are entitled to debate political differences, that is what our debating room is for.

Not the lounge or the computer help boards. B)

[catgate]

However what is said/written on these boards is controlled, it will not affect the way people think. The ever burgeoning amount of statutary Political Correctness proves this.

The "West" is at present trying to bring "freedom" to the rest of the world. That freedom must include freedom of thought, and expression. It must also include freedom to not listen to, or read, the expression of the thoughts of others. Additionally included must be the freedom to have a sense of humour, and a sense of reality, and not see the world as the politicians would have us see it.

Different nations, even in the western hemisphere, have long cultural histories that will not disapper because some jumped up politician snaps his fingers. As a result the people of different countries do not hold the same views on their own country as do the inhabitants of another. Who's views are correct and who's views are wrong will all be found out in the fullness of time (If we live long enough).

Edit ....missed out a politically correct comma!

[Robbers Dog]

Never a nice word....just jokes about us and bashing us.

I feel sorry for you if you can't take any critisism about your president or your country. Polticians of all parties and countries are not beyond condemnation.

If you don't like a thread that opposes the USA or Bush, ignore it. Or even have it removed, which as happened before.

[andsome]

However what is said/written on these boards is controlled, it will not affect the way people think. The ever burgeoning amount of statutary Political Correctness proves this.

The "West" is at present trying to bring "freedom" to the rest of the world. That freedom must include freedom of thought, and expression. It must also include freedom to not listen to, or read, the expression of the thoughts of others. Additionally  included must be the freedom to have a sense of humour, and a sense of reality, and not see the world as the politicians would have us see it.

Different nations, even in the western hemisphere, have long cultural histories that will not disapper because some jumped up politician snaps his fingers. As a result the people of different countries do not hold the same views on their own country as do the inhabitants of another. Who's views are correct and who's views are wrong will all be found out in the fullness of time (If we live long enough).

Edit ....missed out a politically correct comma!

Wise words

[andsome]

Never a nice word....just jokes about us and bashing us.

I feel sorry for you if you can't take any critisism about your president or your country. Polticians of all parties and countries are not beyond condemnation.

If you don't like a thread that opposes the USA or Bush, ignore it. Or even have it removed, which as happened before.

More wise words

[dadyassa]

I am sorry about your thoughts on the alleged " just jokes about us and bashing us "

I hope you dont think my post " Revocation of Independence " is contributing to it, it is just British humour.

You didn`t see any Brits fly into a strop when someone posted a thread about celebrating Independence Day, errrrrrm I cant remember who posted it now ?

Lighten up man, everyone is entitled to an opinion.

A lot of things I read upset me, especially andsome saying he is the best looking guy on the site, but I just grin and bare it cos I know he`s not :lol: :lol:

Stay and chill out a bit ;)

[nellie2]

What we need are a few more regular American visitors.. to even the political debating score out a bit!

You got any friends DW? Preferably rich, single and goodlooking?? :blush:

[andsome]

A lot of things I read upset me, especially andsome saying he is the best looking guy on the site, but I just grin and bare it cos I know he`s not  :lol:  :lol:

You know very well that I never lie on the forum. :ninja:

[Robbers Dog]

I cannot remember the last time I read any discussions abou the economic or social problems you are having over there.

That's because we don't have any. :lol:

[homecomputeraid]

I joined a different forum and was heavily chastised for going a little off topic. I was told by a moderator that he had seen forums torn apart by off topic postings that led to flame wars and were a fertile ground in which trolls can sew the seeds of discontent. Perhaps (although it may be painful now that people are used to just saying whatever's on their minds) we should consider keeping things on topic, and eliminating random opinion type rooms? There are plenty of forums and chat rooms devoted to politics out there.

[catgate]

Perhaps (although it may be painful now that people are used to just saying whatever's on their minds) we should consider keeping things on topic, and eliminating random opinion type rooms?

On what grounds? Political correctness? Homeland security? Mass conformity?

The greatest thing about this forum has been the tolerance, of both members and staff, to diversity of posted material. This site seems to me to be an oasis of "polite" variety in a desert of electronic, moronic, coarse rudeness and vulgarity.

Why the anouncement, by one member, that he is leaving should engender all this navel gazing baffles me.

[dadyassa]

I joined a different forum and was heavily chastised for going a little off topic.  I was told by a moderator that he had seen forums torn apart by off topic postings that led to flame wars and were a fertile ground in which trolls can sew the seeds of discontent.  Perhaps (although it may be painful now that people are used to just saying whatever's on their minds) we should consider keeping things on topic, and eliminating random opinion type rooms?  There are plenty of forums and chat rooms devoted to politics out there.

A TOPIC...... a subject which is discussed, written about or studied.

I dont think they are going off topic, they are just being discussed by people with different veiws on the subject.

I have just looked back through the alleged US bashing posts in the lounge and find that most of the posts have been started by D W anyway. Surely he doesn`t expect everyone in the discussion to have the same opinions and thoughts as him ?

[trackrat]

I agree with catgate, we have had members leaving before for various reasons.

It is there choice so why the furore.

At the end of the day it is his decision.

[andsome]

I think any thread is likely to veer off topic, as one thing leads to another. I think that most of us from time to time have been guilty, I know that I have. I for one will also admit that on occasions I have not been too clear in my mind where to start a topic, and have started it in the lounge, when in fact it would probably have been better in a debating forum. Surely most of us are adult enough to debate and have different opinions without falling out. It would be a sorry world, (even sorrier than it is now), if conformity had to be the norm. This is just what some politicians would relish. This is an extremely good forum, and has helped an awful lot of people with their computer problems. It is though a fact, that many of the members on here can offer little in the way of assistance, and it is the more relaxed side of things, banter, jokes and debates etc that are the attraction.