Bob Southgate wrote:

Olive_Boyle wrote:Is it Blacksmith's turn to be hunted down and ripped to shreds? So what if that is him.

By doing this you are just proving everything he said about this forum in his blog.

Not content with tearing apart everyone connected to the McCann's side it time to turn on someone from your own side.

Please don't do it, it does the cause no good.

You might want to take a step back and reconsider what comes across as a hysterical and ill thought out comment. It does you no favours whatsoever.

With all due respect this is hardly an hysterical and ill thought out comment.
No way.
I resonate it with the sentiments entirely.

And me too. The recent flavour here is more than sour and somewhat pathetic.

Have a look at Spudguns latest - posted here under Real Support topic. It's good.

Humanist wrote:

Bob Southgate wrote:

Olive_Boyle wrote:Is it Blacksmith's turn to be hunted down and ripped to shreds? So what if that is him.

By doing this you are just proving everything he said about this forum in his blog.

Not content with tearing apart everyone connected to the McCann's side it time to turn on someone from your own side.

Please don't do it, it does the cause no good.

You might want to take a step back and reconsider what comes across as a hysterical and ill thought out comment. It does you no favours whatsoever.

With all due respect this is hardly an hysterical and ill thought out comment.
No way.
I resonate it with the sentiments entirely.

The post that quoted a review of the book was hardly "ripping BS to shreds" and I stand by my original comments. I am suspicious of your motives given your low post count so what exactly is your agenda?

Bob Southgate wrote:

Humanist wrote:

Bob Southgate wrote:

Olive_Boyle wrote:Is it Blacksmith's turn to be hunted down and ripped to shreds? So what if that is him.

By doing this you are just proving everything he said about this forum in his blog.

Not content with tearing apart everyone connected to the McCann's side it time to turn on someone from your own side.

Please don't do it, it does the cause no good.

You might want to take a step back and reconsider what comes across as a hysterical and ill thought out comment. It does you no favours whatsoever.

With all due respect this is hardly an hysterical and ill thought out comment.
No way.
I resonate it with the sentiments entirely.

The post that quoted a review of the book was hardly "ripping BS to shreds" and I stand by my original comments. I am suspicious of your motives given your low post count so what exactly is your agenda?

I have a low post count because i could not log in with my old email address. But I have been here since its inception.
What I do notice on a lot of these forums is that you have posters with incredible knowledge and wisdom and yet they lose credibility by the average voices on the forum.
So when I see someone banned for no real reason I am going to query it.
When I see half truths that may or may not be someone I am going to query it.
Anything I see as not being beneficial to the forum is going to be questioned.
It is the forums favour not in the individuals.

I agree with bob southgate. His post did not rip anybody to shreds but made the forum aware of a possible explanation as to why the posters here were called cowards etc. Nothing wrong with that and as Bob said it might or might not be the same A. Sharples.
I do not like being accused of tearing people apart because I have joined a forum posting my thoughts. Also I am not a pro or anti mr. and mrs. I am pro Maddie, therefore only one side and that is Maddies.

plebgate wrote:I agree with bob southgate. His post did not rip anybody to shreds but made the forum aware of a possible explanation as to why the posters here were called cowards etc. Nothing wrong with that and as Bob said it might or might not be the same A. Sharples.
I do not like being accused of tearing people apart because I have joined a forum posting my thoughts. Also I am not a pro or anti mr. and mrs. I am pro Maddie, therefore only one side and that is Maddies.

I agree - I think we are all mostly here for Maddie.

Humanist wrote:I have a low post count because i could not log in with my old email address. But I have been here since its inception.
What I do notice on a lot of these forums is that you have posters with incredible knowledge and wisdom and yet they lose credibility by the average voices on the forum.
So when I see someone banned for no real reason I am going to query it.
When I see half truths that may or may not be someone I am going to query it.
Anything I see as not being beneficial to the forum is going to be questioned.
It is the forums favour not in the individuals.

It's one thing querying when members are banned or challenging half truths but something entirely different when you read Olive Boyles hysterical post about ripping Blacksmith to shreds. Given some of the comments Blacksmith has made about those who inhabit such forums it is no surprise that people are angry as the comments come across as vitriolic and unnecessary.

You claim you have been here since the inception of the forum so what was your old forum name? A simple question which I am sure you will be able to answer.

Hi humanist I remember you from the old 3as.

plebgate wrote:Hi humanist I remember you from the old 3as.

God that seems like an eternity away........

Humanist wrote:

Bob Southgate wrote:

Humanist wrote:

Bob Southgate wrote:

Olive_Boyle wrote:Is it Blacksmith's turn to be hunted down and ripped to shreds? So what if that is him.

By doing this you are just proving everything he said about this forum in his blog.

Not content with tearing apart everyone connected to the McCann's side it time to turn on someone from your own side.

Please don't do it, it does the cause no good.

You might want to take a step back and reconsider what comes across as a hysterical and ill thought out comment. It does you no favours whatsoever.

With all due respect this is hardly an hysterical and ill thought out comment.
No way.
I resonate it with the sentiments entirely.

The post that quoted a review of the book was hardly "ripping BS to shreds" and I stand by my original comments. I am suspicious of your motives given your low post count so what exactly is your agenda?

I have a low post count because i could not log in with my old email address. But I have been here since its inception.
What I do notice on a lot of these forums is that you have posters with incredible knowledge and wisdom and yet they lose credibility by the average voices on the forum.
So when I see someone banned for no real reason I am going to query it.
When I see half truths that may or may not be someone I am going to query it.
Anything I see as not being beneficial to the forum is going to be questioned.
It is the forums favour not in the individuals.

3 people , all on the 'same side' banned from here last week. I know because they are all on the MM and joined the Facebook page I am a member of.

Humanist wrote:
I have a low post count because i could not log in with my old email address. But I have been here since its inception.
What I do notice on a lot of these forums is that you have posters with incredible knowledge and wisdom and yet they lose credibility by the average voices on the forum.
So when I see someone banned for no real reason I am going to query it.
When I see half truths that may or may not be someone I am going to query it.
Anything I see as not being beneficial to the forum is going to be questioned.
It is the forums favour not in the individuals.
unquote

11 is a very low post count considering you've been here since the 'inception'.
I agree with Bob Southgate. A lot of hysteria - in fact 'ripping Blacksmith to shreds' isn't happening except in some members' imagination. I would advise new members to 'get to know' other members by posting and reading for some time, before trying to take over a ship which has sailed in stormy weather for a long time.
Factual information and deductive reasoning is what I'm looking for. Personally, I simply stated why I didn't like Blacksmiths' posts and backed it up with quotes from his work. I have nothing personal against Blacksmith, how could I? I don't know him. I'm critisising his work.

I am disappointed. The infighting between posters does this forum no favours and is beginning to illuminate puerile behaviours.

Am I to believe that if I dont post enough, or support posters on here who have been aggressively attacked and treated with unpleasant sarcasm I will be considered a troll and from 'the other side'?

Getting fed up and awaiting my ban

Bob Southgate wrote:

Humanist wrote:I have a low post count because i could not log in with my old email address. But I have been here since its inception.
What I do notice on a lot of these forums is that you have posters with incredible knowledge and wisdom and yet they lose credibility by the average voices on the forum.
So when I see someone banned for no real reason I am going to query it.
When I see half truths that may or may not be someone I am going to query it.
Anything I see as not being beneficial to the forum is going to be questioned.
It is the forums favour not in the individuals.

It's one thing querying when members are banned or challenging half truths but something entirely different when you read Olive Boyles hysterical post about ripping Blacksmith to shreds. Given some of the comments Blacksmith has made about those who inhabit such forums it is no surprise that people are angry as the comments come across as vitriolic and unnecessary.

You claim you have been here since the inception of the forum so what was your old forum name? A simple question which I am sure you will be able to answer.

Don't tell him Pike!

olipet wrote:I am disappointed. The infighting between posters does this forum no favours and is beginning to illuminate puerile behaviours.

Am I to believe that if I dont post enough, or support posters on here who have been aggressively attacked and treated with unpleasant sarcasm I will be considered a troll and from 'the other side'?

Getting fed up and awaiting my ban

Were you looking for a forum where everyone would agree with everyone else? People have different opinions, in a civilised society debate ensues.

Yes, it certainly would be boring, Tigger, if everyone agreed all the time!

Perhaps some newer posters aren't used to forums? I wasn't before I arrived at this one though I can't recall having any problems with "settling in" - everyone is different of course.

I think a few facts have been lost along the way here, with certain "disagreements" going on. This is aimed at no-one individually but just an opinion based on observation.

Firstly, we MUST remember that this forum is run by a very small number of people who put in a lot of time to provide some sort of platform for us to gather and comment. It is a privilege and NOT an entitlement to be here IMO, and the owner/admins, I think, are entitled to run this FREE resource anyway they like. We are here voluntarily, after all.

Secondly, although a small number of these members have met in "real life", in the main we are strangers to each other, exchanging views that are emotive and controversial. It is a given that amongst it all, there will be some disagreements and it is down to us whether we choose to avoid potential conflict situations, or throw our toys out of the pram when things don't go our way. There has been a fair bit of dummy spitting, and that is 100% avoidable. Comment is voluntary, so everyone who has got into a conflict has done so of their own free will.

Thirdly, it has been a fairly "disturbing" few weeks, what with the court case, the Twitter issues and all the undercurrents of pedophile revelations in the news etc. It is bound to leave people a bit more edgy that usual. It is not "normal" stuff we are discussing here, it is highly upsetting subject matter that eludes to cover-ups, fear, conspiracy, injustice and so on. It's not light fluffy stuff that has a feel good factor, but stuff which is making us reconsider the whole foundation of our society in a way.

Everything that has gone on, IMO, has an undermining effect on our levels of trust. Particularly the recent Twitter campaign by someone who does not deserve to be named, that sought to scare people by making personal details available and so on.

I think overall, it is fairly understandable that there is a degree of "narkiness" around, and I am sure it will pass shortly.

The real "enemy" is those perverts out there, those that are lying to us, controlling our country, abusing our liberties.

Hopefully, here, we are all "friends" inasmuch as we want the TRUTH.

Please, from the bottom of my heart, let's try and focus on our common aim rather than our differences

smokeandmirrors.

Thank you Smokeand Mirrors, you said that better than I ever could.

Jean wrote: smokeandmirrors.

and here's a few more! (for the disgruntled too - may you all soon be gruntled!)

Spaniel wrote:

Bob Southgate wrote:

Humanist wrote:I have a low post count because i could not log in with my old email address. But I have been here since its inception.
What I do notice on a lot of these forums is that you have posters with incredible knowledge and wisdom and yet they lose credibility by the average voices on the forum.
So when I see someone banned for no real reason I am going to query it.
When I see half truths that may or may not be someone I am going to query it.
Anything I see as not being beneficial to the forum is going to be questioned.
It is the forums favour not in the individuals.

It's one thing querying when members are banned or challenging half truths but something entirely different when you read Olive Boyles hysterical post about ripping Blacksmith to shreds. Given some of the comments Blacksmith has made about those who inhabit such forums it is no surprise that people are angry as the comments come across as vitriolic and unnecessary.

You claim you have been here since the inception of the forum so what was your old forum name? A simple question which I am sure you will be able to answer.

Don't tell him Pike!

Actually my name was then Humanist as well. Same old, same old.

I'm sorry if I came across as hysterical.

Can I just say to Bob S that I wasn't accusing anyone of actually "ripping Blacksmith to shreds" but feared that this would be what happened if people continued to try and dig dirt on him. And you have to admit that finding the book stuff was going down that route.

I posted this in another thread.... but perhaps it belongs here, instead. Smokeandmirrors, I said I had none.... but I think you may be becoming a 'favorite' poster. kudos for your earlier post in this thread.

This will be my second third post to this forum -

I joined in order to add a note to Mr. Bennett expressing my hope that the hearing would result in the best possible outcome for him.

My second post is also a note to Mr. Bennett expressing my hope that he receives the best possible outcome.

Like many of the rest of you, I have been following this case since 2007. I have no 'favorite players' in the sideline dramas that have erupted during the last 5+ years. I don't even have 'favorite' posters or blogs that I follow (but russiandoll does seem to express many of my own views quite frequently). I cannot sign your petitions, or even write to your MPs. I'm a foreigner, and reside in the U.S.

However, I do have respect and admiration for the people who have 'put it on the line' so to speak, and have the courage to raise their voice to question what does not make sense.... no matter what country they live in. Naturally, I'm going to throw my hopes and 'wishes for the best' to like-minded thinkers. I believe your press has been manipulated. I believe that there is far more smoke and mirrors (no direct relation to the poster with that username) being used than in any other criminal event I have seen.

I don't even know what the specific crime(s) is/are anymore. At first, I believed it was a death being covered up. At some point I began to even doubt that the child existed at the time of the fateful 'holiday'. Sometimes I believe that the private investigators AND the supposed settlement from the newspaper was a pure 'money laundering' operation to get dollars from the fund back into the hands of the family and confuse the money trail. Other times I believe that the ultimate goal has always been one of obtaining a political post. I don't even know anymore if I am seeking justice for a little girl.... or if I just don't want to see 'bad people' win by manipulation and deception. Probably both.

My bottom line is that I do realize and appreciate that both Mr. Bennett and Dr. Amaral have sacrificed much in what I believe are sincere attempts to get to the truth of the matter.... and I fervently wish that I had even a 10th of their courage and/or wherewithall to do the same.

Mr. Bennett & Dr. Amaral - you have this anonymous poster's respect for your endeavors. It's not much, but it is one more voice letting you know that what you have managed to accomplish is seen and heard by many.

Finally - an Albert Einstein (quotable quote)

"The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything”

Smokeandmirrors wrote:I think a few facts have been lost along the way here, with certain "disagreements" going on. This is aimed at no-one individually but just an opinion based on observation.

Firstly, we MUST remember that this forum is run by a very small number of people who put in a lot of time to provide some sort of platform for us to gather and comment. It is a privilege and NOT an entitlement to be here IMO, and the owner/admins, I think, are entitled to run this FREE resource anyway they like. We are here voluntarily, after all.

Secondly, although a small number of these members have met in "real life", in the main we are strangers to each other, exchanging views that are emotive and controversial. It is a given that amongst it all, there will be some disagreements and it is down to us whether we choose to avoid potential conflict situations, or throw our toys out of the pram when things don't go our way. There has been a fair bit of dummy spitting, and that is 100% avoidable. Comment is voluntary, so everyone who has got into a conflict has done so of their own free will.

Thirdly, it has been a fairly "disturbing" few weeks, what with the court case, the Twitter issues and all the undercurrents of pedophile revelations in the news etc. It is bound to leave people a bit more edgy that usual. It is not "normal" stuff we are discussing here, it is highly upsetting subject matter that eludes to cover-ups, fear, conspiracy, injustice and so on. It's not light fluffy stuff that has a feel good factor, but stuff which is making us reconsider the whole foundation of our society in a way.

Everything that has gone on, IMO, has an undermining effect on our levels of trust. Particularly the recent Twitter campaign by someone who does not deserve to be named, that sought to scare people by making personal details available and so on.

I think overall, it is fairly understandable that there is a degree of "narkiness" around, and I am sure it will pass shortly.

The real "enemy" is those perverts out there, those that are lying to us, controlling our country, abusing our liberties.

Hopefully, here, we are all "friends" inasmuch as we want the TRUTH.

Please, from the bottom of my heart, let's try and focus on our common aim rather than our differences