BLUEMOMENT

It often seems to me that forum bunfights develop because posters take up opposing views based on their own circumstances/experiences and are unable to see that their protagonists' experiences might be equally valid in different circumstances. Of course that's no excuse for the descent into personal abuse that so frequently follows.

I am reminded of a joke ably re-told here by Shard (and referring to a similar situation)

Anyway, the story goes that Sydney Goodsir Smith and Hugh MacDiarmid had taken a few afternoon drams and were walking down the old Embra High Street before it was tarted up.

There was some overhead shouting, and Smith looked up, fascinated by this argument going on between two women three sterrs up, and on opposite sides of the street.

After watching and listening for a few seconds, he turned to MacDiarmid and said "You know, these two will never agree about anything."

"How can you be so sure?" asked MacDiarmid.

"Because they're arguing from different premises."

Last nicht in Scotland street I met a man
that gruppit my lapel — a kinna foreign
cratur he seemed; he tellt me, There's a war on
atween the Lang-nebs and the Big-heid Clan.

I wasna fasht, I took him for a moron,
naething byordnar, but he said, Ye're wan
of thae lang-nebbit folk, and if I can
I'm gaunnae pash ye doun and rype your sporran.

Says he, I’ll get a medal for this job;
we’re watchan ye, we ken fine what ye’re at,
ye’re with us or agin us, shut your gob.
He gied a clout that knockit aff my hat,
bawlan, A fecht! Come on, the Big-heid Mob!
Aweill, I caa’d him owre, and that was that.

• Robert Garioch - ‘I’m Neutral’

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Brilliant Donald. I am ashamed to admit I hadn't come across Robert Garioch before.