taking a break

Come on, Fish! Surely you're not going to let a few idiots run you out, are you? Especially since they're well in the minority. Do what (most of) the rest of us do, and ignore them...they'll go away eventually. Besides, your posts are amongst the most entertaining (and informative) on the site..

I agree with you in parts, there are some strange contributions, hopefully I haven't made any but If I have, please tell me,. I for one would miss your contributions and hope that you do keep in touch as you do make a difference.

Hrrrmmm.... I remember retiring from the forums a couple of months ago when the strength of vitriol was incredible. I didnt think it was too bad at the moment....

and where is this vitriol?

In the phial next to the venom, Marty.

Actually...... Look how quiet the forums are. How sad. But, when you get streams of bizzare and deliberate baiting, along with absolute flooding of every thread; "I love me, aren't I great, oh no, I'm crap, tell me I'm not" and then such posts as, a single word; "Gobshite" (how literary that little corker was), then there really is no answer. Kind of kills further discussion, and l cant think of a single person that finds it even remotely amusing. If we lose people like Fish from the phorums, thats sad. There's room for everyone here, as long as there is some kind of respect going on. Personally, I'll be ignoring the posts, like the recently appearing ones, that are just designed to deliberately inflame, 'cos basically, I cant be arsed to give the pleasure that the posters are so obviously seeking, by responding. Hope they're satisfied.

Hear, hear. The bile may be vile but I'll maybe stay a while. The only ones that matter are the ones who write with style. The vain and the plain are clearly dull in main. In our lives they try their best to be a tiresome bain. We'll keep it sweet, we'll keep it witty. One elegant digit for anyone who's s****y (Fish, come back. Can't you see I need help, for Cod's sake...and yes I did mean to type COD not GOD).

Liana, Someone has pushed the ABC Tales 'Nutter Magnet' onto full force. A friend of mine call the Internet 'The Biggest Sewer in the World'. I think it is probably impossible to stop some of the effluent from leaking onto this site. Nice mixing of metaphors there, methinks.

Sorry. I didn't think my poetry was that bad (goes away to consider new scatological references drifting into thread).

Wolfchild, Please note that we posted at exactly the same time. My references were not to you, who graces this site. Signed, He who cannot pronounce his name backwards.

I know honeybun. I was just being precious but not genuinely so. Yes, the internet does attract the slack-lipped, pimply-brained misfits (has quick scan in mirror to check that she does not fit her own description). Little Gods. Like the name, posting twin. I am going to get some beauty sleep (much-needed) and marinate a few story ideas (hopefully).

Glad you were not offended. Twin Posts... the sequel to Twin Peaks? mmm... May all your marinations be fruitful! signed, He who cannot be arsed to write his name forwards.

yes, it would be a shame to see one fish driven away by the inane postings of another - as well as some other scaly creatures. I think wolfie's hook netted it in one. If you check out the 'scala bet' thread; the 'gobshite' post; and the cod spawn posts littered about there seems to be a common server link. As for others; I tired of the mind games yesterday. some don't want to join in the fun even when offered the opportunity. It's not worth responding - as Liana says. Equally, if you leave, who wins? I, for one, am glad wolfie changed her mind about going. A brave decision given the personal remark she had to endure. There is an invisible line here. Please try not to step over it folks.

my oh my. i have scanned these discussion groups for anything resembling abusive or inflammatory writing, and it's all so twee, so provincial, so utterly benign.. am i mistaken, and it is a question, in thinking that any messages designed to evoke a response are considered a bad thing? that's a really scary idea, but then, i suppose as long as people adhere to your version of what constitutes a credible message, then that's okay. the word CLIQUE screams at me. an exclusion by dint of differing ambitions is hardly a sign of graciousness or intellectual rigour, but even this message will be considered hostile, for it's failure to recognise your elevated status in the " group "... it's utterly shameful. that writers run away from words..just because it doesn't comply with their register..precious, oppressive and emotionally blackmailing with threats to not play anymore..sheesh... good luck. i mean it. martin xxxx

Martin, you are a twat.

now that's vitriol. i am never ever ever coming back here again, i don't have to come here to be insulted! love martin xx

Au contraire. I think that most of us love to discuss/debate anything connected with writing. I only speak for myself but the things that make my hackles rise are: 1. Personal/sexual insults. 2. Pretentiousness. 3. Affectation. 4. Revolting quantities of unnecessary bile,unless presented with the witticism of Wilde and the brevity to be truly funny. After all some of the greatest spats in the world have been ones between literary figures. It is unavoidable that writers will find others they like. Human beings are tribal. Writers are often loners and sometimes even lonely; an on-line writing community is a gift from Heaven. Cliques? I don't accept that. We are all separate beings and all very different writers. Supportive, yes. We encourage new writers and help where we can. We are not a cloying pack of hounds who tear newcomers to pieces. Fresh blood enlivens. It's only when liberties are taken that the whole process becomes a chore. (See four irritants above). That's my take on things.

We have looked into making the discussion forums only available to members and removing members who consistently post offensive material but thought that leaving the forums as self-moderating as possible was better. It seemed to work for a long time but if a lot of you are finding that the forums are becoming unpleasant, drop me a line and we'll look deeper into some form of members only group. Unfortunately, moderating every post takes a very long time and it's a fine line - what is offensive to one person could be funny to another so we try not to remove any more posts than absolutely necessary. Cheers Emily PS: Don't go, iFB - I'd miss you!

personal insults i hate, i can only stand impersonal insults, and as for sexual insults..i cannot disagree on that point pretentiousness...who defines pretentiousness? that's a remarkably abstract basis on which to denounce...isn't pretentiousness where a speaker or writer deliberately obscures what they are saying with rococo embellishments? or is it saying something about a field of which you know nothing? or is pretentiousness a tone or register which is arch or perhaps declamatory? or is that what you mean by affectation? and why conform to wildean wit? and to circumscribe wit in order to exclude? whoa.... and bile...unless a message is harrowingly abusive in an immediate way, i assume a position of benefit of the doubt, and allow people their tart expressions as a way of fostering some kind of dynamic... i think martin you are a twat is not only abusive, but puerile. or should i have agreed with that? i have been blackballed by finer clubs than this, but i would consider my exclusion an honour, and a clarion call of awaiting supremacy..over the anxious lowing of the more bovine individuals....that seem to inhabit this particular corner of the internet...baying hounds bring about the rising of hairs on the back of my neck, fear, escape, adventure..i wish i were being ripped to pieces, it's a whole lot more edifying than being poached in cocoa to a soundtrack by lionel richie... *smile*. see? i am writing all this with utter hope and nothing but warm thoughts about how wonderful it is to be amongst all these luscious people.... love you all even the tetchy ones martin xxxx

ivy- don't go! The forums wouldn't be the same without you... and Martin the whatever: if we're so obviously beneath you, why do you persist in participating in the site?

I always knew I was a pussycat !

Please don't mistake me for the verbose Martin, I'm not trying to be insulting....just literal. I sort of agree with Spab though....Martin .....take a break...take a kit kat....take anything..take something to make your make sense. Sorry I'm almost lapsing into vitriol which I don't wish to do. Fish, I have greatly enjoyed your writing and your contributions to these forums....I hope you stay and let's hope the level of debate and discussion improves...

oh sheesh, i accidentally stumbled into a discussion forum that won't discuss, populated by writers who have an aversion to ideas. sorry people. see you around. love you all. martin

So, farewell then, martin. Your diction caused friction, your love was a fiction, we all applaud your self-eviction.

Farewell Martin, I don't think you ever got the point did you ?

as far as I can tell, you only had one idea, and that was the mistaken one that anyone gave a f*** about your petty insults and smug superiority. good riddance!

I think I sung this elsewhere in these threads so you should all know the words by now. So long , farewell Auf wiedersehen Goodbyeee blah, blah, blah I love you all xxxx

Sheesh!