Maybe Gordon Brown is'nt that bad !!!!!!!!

[woodbloke]

As someone who's very rarely even physically picked up a cancer stick (or handled a packet of ****) let alone stuck one in my face and ignited it...I'm in total agreement with DanT and am probably even more of an anti-smoking Nazi. To smoke IMO is just about the most stupid thing that an individual can inflict on themselves...and others My daughter (now 23) had given up since Jan but was visibly mortified :shock: when I told her (more than once) that she and all her clothes stank of stale tobacco, so I'm mightily chuffed that the dreaded weed has been kicked into touch...trouble is she's now eating us out of house and home (but at least she say's she can taste her food now) - Rob

 

[Gill]

I know you guys like to chew over the state of the nation, but can we please tone down the politics? It seems as if the 'Off-Topic' section has become the preserve of a bunch of cantankerous, grumpy old wotsits who are like dogs refusing to let go of a bone.

Why can't we have a bit more about motor bikes please? How about your favourite hip-hop band? Sports? Drinking establishments? There's loads to talk about apart from politics (just don't expect me to have much to say about motor bikes, hip-hop, or sport - drink... I could be persuaded :lol.

Gill

 

[woodbloke]

cantankerous, grumpy old wotsits

:lol: :lol: :lol: - Rob

 

[skipdiver]

Hip Hop, you're having a laugh aren't you? If you think you can come onto a woodwork site and pollute my mind with godawful music......................................

Seriously though,we all know what happens on discussion forums.Every one i have ever been on has included the odd thread that descends into argument and recrimination.It's the nature of the beast.Discussion leads to opinion leads to disagreement leads to argument.

Not condoning it,just recognising human nature and the faceless aspect of forums.

Don't like motorbikes.
Love football and cricket.
A pint of real ale and i'm anybodys.

 

[lurker]

Gill,

I'm sure if you reviewed the demographic of all this forums members we would be predominantly 45+ therefore inevitably we are cantankerous grumpy old gits!.

 

[dunbarhamlin]

I know you guys like to chew over the state of the nation, but can we please tone down the politics? It seems as if the 'Off-Topic' section has become the preserve of a bunch of cantankerous, grumpy old wotsits who are like dogs refusing to let go of a bone.

Why can't we have a bit more about motor bikes please? How about your favourite hip-hop band? Sports? Drinking establishments? There's loads to talk about apart from politics (just don't expect me to have much to say about motor bikes, hip-hop, or sport - drink... I could be persuaded :lol.

Gill

Ouch. The prevailing antipathy to any debate which ranges outside of the PC fuzzy zone is I think a major factor in the demise of British democracy.
Society has serious issues which we cannot discuss for fear of being labelled some sort of an -ist, be it mental/physical handicaps, immigration/integration, obesity, VD (coming up with a new label doesn't fix anything), delinquency or any of a myriad other issues which should rightly be at the forefront of public debate but are considered too sensitive to discuss in polite company.
This encourages and allows an increasingly poor standard of political candidate to gain office, thus increasing the extremes to which the executive can stoop.
WAKE UP, DAMMIT! If we are to have a healthy society, we MUST be in a position to discuss its ills. Without debate, views develop in isolation, without rationale and inevitably become more extreme.
This is why I sometimes let loose a half baked idea - because the responses it attracts further my education and understanding of our collective lot, encouraging me to refine or even discard my opinions.

 

[skipdiver]

Well said that man.

 

[Gill]

I'm wide awake and frequently discuss political issues on another forum. This, however, is a woodwork forum.

If we are to have a healthy society...

...talking about the ills of society will not be as effective as interacting with that society. If all this political conversation has helped you determine what needs to be done, tell us about what you're actually doing to change the world. I'd be very interested to hear about that.

Or am I just reprising a scene from Life of Brian? 'It's happening, Reg. Something's actually happening, Reg. Can't you understand?'



Gill

 

[dunbarhamlin]

I used to be a highly political animal, knocking on doors etc, but became disillusioned with (at that time) the competence of the average franchisee, rather than canditates (of any persuasion), who were then still chasing seats which attracted little direct financial reward and so were in it to 'make a difference' - and that required a familiarity with the three Rs (including rhetoric)
Recent discussions here and in 'another place' have rekindled my interest, and I am considering a more active role - but this requires that I develop a base set of considered opinions, which can only properly form by interactions such as these.
As to what I'm actively doing at the moment, nothing direct, though I'm making a batch of guitars to give on permanent loan to local youth and education organisations. I'd like to do more, perhaps working directly with yoofs, but don't have much free time, and so haven't looked into the practicalities of this yet (lots of red tape I expect, especially since we're now all officially perverts until the CRB says otherwise)

 

[gatesmr2]

Mmmmm

well i had meant this thread to be light hearted as i thought it was funny

shultzy got what i meant with making love to his dog on a park bench as long as it's on a lead. :shock:
Don't think people will every agree about whats wrong and whats right in life but then again thats what makes life interesting ..............people having different views or life would get very boring.

Ohh by the way Shultzy think Wogan had the same paper as Ken Bruce that day.

Martin

 

[davegw]

I can remember a TV Ad a while ago that was supposed to make us vote that suggested that everything came down to politics, and to tyr and cut out conversations about it would shut us all up?

Personally, I quite like the debate, heated or otherwise. There are things I think people shouldn't say, but that's my opinion (which as my first wife would say, doesn't count for much).

As for being Grumpy, I fall a little below the +45 demographic, but I quite like being Grumpy - it's rare for me to be disapointed

 

[lurker]

, but I quite like being Grumpy

Dave,

Regardless of the date on your birth Certificate, you are definitely
50+ :lol: :lol:

I said to SWMBO, not long ago "I think I'm turning into a grumpy old man" she said "what do you mean - turning?" :lol: :lol:

 

[davegw]

I'm also Sneezy (hayfever season), Sleepy, and Dopey (Certainly apparant from some of my posts)

wouldn't mind being Doc as well - at least I'd be able to afford a bigger workshop!

 

[Digit]

Well said that man

Absolutely!

Roy.

 

[StevieB]

Nah, I am a Doc (scientific one anyway) and my workshop is currently a badly lit, cramped and damp cellar. Title does not equal money sadly, but it does equal job satisfaction to a large degree so I guess that makes me Happy :wink:

Steve.

 

[Philly]

Gill,

I'm sure if you reviewed the demographic of all this forums members we would be predominantly 45+ therefore inevitably we are cantankerous grumpy old gits!.

Speak for yourself! :lol: :wink:
Philly
Still hanging on to his thirties by a thread.....

 

[Digit]

My age is irrelevant, I was born like it! :lol: :lol:
Mind you, I've been honing my skills ever since!

Roy.

 

[Rich]

I'm still an apprentice,

Rich. :lol:

 

[Digit]

With me to train you you'll improve. Trust me!

Roy.

 

[Anonymous]

I've been known as 'Uncle Grumpy' since my late thirties. Start early and as you mean to go on I say.