It is so strange... I am sure that if Donny and I were to meet, were to hang out, maybe even play together, we would get on just fine. But somehow, the printed word brings out things that we would NEVER do in person to each other. The anonymity of it, the misunderstood phrase, the poorly worded concept, the inability of even smilies to put the right nuance on what we write, and enmity develops that face to face conversation never (or usually never!) engenders.

Truly sad. We are supposed to be a brotherhood (and sisterhood, in deference to the 'lack of women' thread ) but here, so often, only the worst aspects of sibling rivalry comes through, rather than the underlying fraternal love that usually smooths it out in the real world.

For my part, I am truly sorry that what I have written here has helped make what was a very popular poster here into a very bitter member. Now, don't get me wrong, I stand by what I write (or I don't write it!), but I truly regret that it was taken the wrong way. I am sure that face to face, we could say the same things to each other (or at least, all but the most bitter) and no-one would get their feelings hurt, but writing, and reading what others write, is truly a different form of communication to talking.

I sincerely hope that, when Donny's current ban is lifted, he can come back here and we all start afresh, and the only digits raised are thumbs...