Thank you, I appreciate your comments

Thecatsmeow, I meant to respond and say that you were right in what you said, and you're right that it is our group. Nevertheless the buck ultimately stops with you, and you're a very fair person, so I'm perfectly happy to go along with any decision you make. I just wanted to point out that I know for a fact that O' Rourke's heart is in the right place, but obviously calling people 'retards' doesn't really fit in with the ethos of the group, so there's no enmity from my side.

Thank you WUB! That's very diplomatic of you and striving for equality within the forum is always going to be my top priority. None of us is perfect and I'll be the first to own-up and say I'm sorry if I know I'm wrong so I believe it's fair to expect the same from any member if they've genuinely dropped a clanger

Hi guys.

I've noticed a lot of stressed people lately. And I understand,
these are stressful times. So I understand where
O'Rourke's coming from.

But don't allow it to break up the solidarity
you/we have. We all agree on some major issues and that we
all despise evil and wish to create some positive changes on earth.

The sociopaths/psychopaths want you to feel bad for being a good person.
There's nothing wrong with wanting to end injustice, slavery, tyranny (in all its forms) etc.

They resort to ridicule and peer-pressure because they know we have a point and it terrifies them.

The global system is at a weak point because it's going through
a transition. So I say we hammer at this weakness.

Don't let them divide us with petty differences.

Thanks for the input oakwise, it's very much appreciated.
I guess I've been a bit on edge lately because of a neighbour. She and I were friends (or so I thought) and then she fell out with me and wouldn't tell me why? Ever since then she's been telling other people "stuff" (I don't know what but she's got a reputation as a trouble-maker) about me and every time she sees me she gives me loads of verbal abuse. I saw her just today and, again, she told me to F' off! She's damaged my property and, in general, is doing her best to make my life Hell but every time I ask her what it is that upset her so much she walks away and refuses to talk about it
I suppose it was a bit of a knee-jerk reaction with O'rourke but when I read that she thought we were all "retards" that was the straw that broke the camels back I'm afraid and she, still, hasn't bothered to PM me?

Oakwise, I see your point, but the problem is none of us had a clue what o_rourke was on about, and o_rourke did not stick around to explain it! That doesn't really help promote any kind of meaningful understanding or communication. Obviously people will get angry from time to time, but they have to at least be.... comprehensible when they do.

Calling us retards was a bit unnecessary too! Not to mention rather unPC...

Iamprobablynot, I realise that; didn't want to state that which
has already been said.

hey, cat, I wasn't having ago at you. I'm sorry to hear
about your neighbour. It's distressing when things like that
happen. I'm not sure what to say without sounding patronising

Hey, that's OK! I'm just trying to show how some small remark can top off a week in Hell! Maybe I should've listened to something like this first?