A sincere request

Walletwatch

Hi

I have been quite a prolific user of these forums over the past three years (although I probably have read more than I have written, maybe I haven't had much to contribute). Over the past month or so, we seem to have seen a distinct polarisation between the bulls and the bears in terms of their view on the UK economy in general. Discussions have become increasingly nasty with name-calling becoming commonplace. It is in this regard that I had a sincere request - can we put an absolute stop to any confrontational behaviour on these forums? It is challenging enough to find information you need by using the search functions or identifying the most relevant forum topic. What makes it even worse is having to trawl through increasingly irrelevant personal insults hurled by posters against each other.

One may react to these incessant cross-insults by simply opting out of the site and not contributing any longer, as indeed some of the regular posters have done, some not having returned (unfortunately) and others having come back. I am clear that I will continue to use these forums, simply because its utility overall still outweighs the time and effort involved in getting information (although this is fast deteriorating). Another way of reacting is to simply ignore the guys most prone to making these personal comments. Unfortunately, it is the same guys who also add considerable value to the forums, with links both positive and negative about the general market conditions, giving me the balanced outlook of the market that I would need, and for me to decide what articles / statistics to take seriously and which to take with a pinch of salt. So marking these guys as IGNORE also doesn't seem to be an option.

It is for this reason that I make this request - can we please exercise discretion in our counter-arguments and just ignore personal insults that others may hurl our way? Hope this doesn't come across as a patronising gesture, but more a sign of my frustration (and possibly others using this forum) to put an end to this nonsense and get on with posting your most valuable relevant comments that I look forward to everytime I log on?

Cheers
WW

justpurchased

Walletwatch wrote: »

Hi

I have been quite a prolific user of these forums over the past three years (although I probably have read more than I have written, maybe I haven't had much to contribute). Over the past month or so, we seem to have seen a distinct polarisation between the bulls and the bears in terms of their view on the UK economy in general. Discussions have become increasingly nasty with name-calling becoming commonplace. It is in this regard that I had a sincere request - can we put an absolute stop to any confrontational behaviour on these forums? It is challenging enough to find information you need by using the search functions or identifying the most relevant forum topic. What makes it even worse is having to trawl through increasingly irrelevant personal insults hurled by posters against each other.

One may react to these incessant cross-insults by simply opting out of the site and not contributing any longer, as indeed some of the regular posters have done, some not having returned (unfortunately) and others having come back. I am clear that I will continue to use these forums, simply because its utility overall still outweighs the time and effort involved in getting information (although this is fast deteriorating). Another way of reacting is to simply ignore the guys most prone to making these personal comments. Unfortunately, it is the same guys who also add considerable value to the forums, with links both positive and negative about the general market conditions, giving me the balanced outlook of the market that I would need, and for me to decide what articles / statistics to take seriously and which to take with a pinch of salt. So marking these guys as IGNORE also doesn't seem to be an option.

It is for this reason that I make this request - can we please exercise discretion in our counter-arguments and just ignore personal insults that others may hurl our way? Hope this doesn't come across as a patronising gesture, but more a sign of my frustration (and possibly others using this forum) to put an end to this nonsense and get on with posting your most valuable relevant comments that I look forward to everytime I log on?

Cheers
WW

Thanks, that is what I was trying to say. Only you have made it more eloquent.

Dithering_Dad

That's easy to say when it's not you who is receiving the insults. I dare say that if you have several forum members, many of which have joined recently and have only 7 or 8 posts, creating threads with your username in the title or posting remarks like "you're an idiot" then you too would be drawn into an argument.

Some posters will make a remark and as soon as you respond, several of their 'gang' will jump on you until it feels like you're in the middle of a hornet's nest. Then they have the gaul to claim the moral high-ground and accuse you of disrupting threads!

No one ever seems to pull these people up - probably from fear of becoming a target themselves, though OMcD did put in a good word for me, bless her cotton socks .

It seems that the people who have to 'turn the other cheek' are the ones who don't belong to the dominant 'HPC' collective. Any points or observations made against these are met with abuse, derision or claims that you're an impoverished BTLer scumbag.

pickles110564

The problem is that all they want to hear about is crashing prices, which as we all know in the real world aint gonna happen except in a few cases where people are desperate to sell.
They say banks wont lend at stupid multipliers again but as we all know banks are there to make money and one way or another they will let the borrower's get n too deep again.

lostinrates

Dithering_Dad wrote: »

That's easy to say when it's not you who is receiving the insults.

I think thats a fair point.

Very recently you wrote something that while didn't name me I felt was directed insultingly at me. i responded and then deleted immeadiately, deciding that if it was I didn't care.

No one ever seems to pull these people up - probably from fear of becoming a target themselves, though OMcD did put in a good word for me, bless her cotton socks .

I've seen fault on both sides, often in the same slanging matches.

Any points or observations made against these are met with abuse, derision or claims that you're an impoverished BTLer scumbag.

not by everyone DD, really, I agree, by a few, but not by everyone.

lostinrates

pickles110564 wrote: »

The problem is that all they want to hear about is crashing prices, which as we all know in the real world aint gonna happen except in a few cases where people are desperate to sell.
They say banks wont lend at stupid multipliers again but as we all know banks are there to make money and one way or another they will let the borrower's get n too deep again.

Who are 'they'. I want to buy property, i want to time it well for me personally, I want to hear things from all angles. I don't care who wins an argument on a discussion board, I care to hear ALL the angles.

Quite frankly, i consider myself neither bull nor bear. I'm fed up of it being insinuated one must take 'sides'.

fimonkey

DD, Stop biting!!! Ignore!... honestly a lot of your posts I find useful, but not the ones where you defend yourself and give more fodder for the trolls to play with.

And well said WW, compltey agree!

justpurchased

lostinrates wrote: »

Who are 'they'. I want to buy property, i want to time it well for me personally, I want to hear things from all angles. I don't care who wins an argument on a discussion board, I care to hear ALL the angles.

I think the point is that you will soon only hear one side (or no sides, there was a warning from the mods yesterday about abuse and the time it is taking them to delete posts. Time they say they have not got). I think by some of the posts on here and some of the abuse I have taken you could quiet easily see who they are and what side of the fence they sit on.

Captain_Mainwaring_2

Dithering_Dad wrote: »

That's easy to say when it's not you who is receiving the insults. I dare say that if you have several forum members, many of which have joined recently and have only 7 or 8 posts, creating threads with your username in the title or posting remarks like "you're an idiot" then you too would be drawn into an argument.

Some posters will make a remark and as soon as you respond, several of their 'gang' will jump on you until it feels like you're in the middle of a hornet's nest. Then they have the gaul to claim the moral high-ground and accuse you of disrupting threads!

No one ever seems to pull these people up - probably from fear of becoming a target themselves, though OMcD did put in a good word for me, bless her cotton socks .

It seems that the people who have to 'turn the other cheek' are the ones who don't belong to the dominant 'HPC' collective. Any points or observations made against these are met with abuse, derision or claims that you're an impoverished BTLer scumbag.

Count yourself lucky, I got called a charlie chester, and my wife was described as a prostitute by a couple of clowns here.

pickles110564

Captain_Mainwaring wrote: »

Count yourself lucky, I got called a charlie chester, and my wife was described as a prostitute by a couple of clowns here.

Sorry I know I live in the countryside but what is a charlie chester?

Dithering_Dad

Captain_Mainwaring wrote: »

Count yourself lucky, I got called a charlie chester, and my wife was described as a prostitute by a couple of clowns here.

Sorry to hear that CM. I can't tell you what words have been thrown my way for fear of starting another battle, but if you'd care to look at the 'Ignore' thread you'll see what I mean.

There's simply no excuse for name calling, especially the name your wife was called. Disgusting.