Hello Martin – Can't say that I have noticed any increase in verbal "bovver" of late but that might be because I only read threads with titles that look interesting to me.

By the way, I looked for you and your engines yesterday at the Stow-Cum-Quy show but didn't spot you.

Rik

I do not take offence since I am no Gentleman, just a common or garden plodder.

I thought things had been reasonably civilised of late?

The mods have no objections to people using the 'report' button if they think a thread or post has crossed the line.

That's a running joke to this day in the UK. The military are found of pointing out that on deployment:

• the Navy sleep in a steel box with only a sheet of tin between them and a watery grave.
• the Army sleep in a muddy trench while the enemy tries to kill them
• the RAF sleep in a Five Star Hotel near the airport.

'Gentlemen' doesn't signify class to me: it's a polite form of 'chap' and is most seen on public toilets. Martin was correct to exclude the ladies from his complaint; they never offend on the forum!

Dave

I must have been looking at at different thread to Neil

"the RAF sleep in a Five Star Hotel near the airport. "

I wish!!

First tour 2 years plus in Aden 110+ in the shade, NO aircon, first 8 weeks' accommodation a bed 3 'biscuits' and a bedside locker on an open veranda! En route intended night-stop Castel Benito, concrete slab with straw palliasse, hessian covered in converted stables. Even we drew the line at that and continued to destination – bed-to-bed 52 hours. … and so on. Oh the silk sheet luxury of it all!!

rgds

Bill

Some folk will take offence at anything, because they WANT to be offended, even by the most innocuous comment. Why be difficult when, with a little effort, you can be impossible?

OK, be careful that what we write cannot be taken the wrong way, but you won't please all the people all the time.

In my book, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Any fool can spoil another's day. when we should be trying to improve things for those around us, if only in a small way.

There is a whinging woman who writes a page in the magazine of a Sunday paper, here in UK. It is full of her "I am hard done by. Everyone has a better time than me. The world is against me" drivel, as she describes her very upmarket clothes and life style. She is a sad person!

How she would cope in the world that my wife and I inhabit, I cannot imagine. We are so grateful for what we have and to be better in health than so many around us.

Howard

I think gentleman defines a man who is well mannered, considerate and conducts himself properly, to me this has nothing to do with class, background or wealth, any man can be a gentleman.

Mike

Only because so many see offence where none is given. If a person's comments are not delivered in a manner designed to give offence, they should not worry about it being given unintentionally.

Edited By Pete Rimmer on 14/07/2019 19:46:55

There is of course the term ‘Gentlewoman’.

Anyway in these modern times perhaps the term ‘fellow people’ should be used?

I have noticed in life generally there are a surprising quantity of people willing to take offence on behalf of others.

Edited By V8Eng on 14/07/2019 20:16:05

It's quite easy Dave. Look at what's been said or written and consider if it was sent in a manner designed to cause offence. It's usually very easy to tell.

Here's an example – if I said that I didn't have the manpower to do a particular job, it doesn't mean that I don't consider women capable of doing that job, it just means that I don't have enough people for it. I used a long-standing term which isn't designed to be discriminatory just passing comment that I'm under-staffed. I wouldn't worry about any possible 'offence' it might cause because I didn't intend any, even though there are the those who would seize the chance to take it.

Another real-life example is the banning of the use of the acronym SPIC, which had always been used to refer to the Site Person In Charge on the railway. During a refresher course they said that it's no longer acceptable to use the term SPIC because it's a derogatory term and offensive to people of Spanish origin. I said no, it's an acronym. "Anyway, they changed it to S.P.C so in the training course we'll be using the term S.P.C not 'that other term'."

"So, we all know what S.P.C stands for don't we?" I put my hand up and said "Stupid Political Correctness".

I agree Martin there has been some unnecessary rudeness recently. Luckily it is only one or two. Excusing it just because it’s an Internet forum isn’t helpful, there’s never an excuse for rudeness. Use of acronyms is sometimes justified but can also be down to laziness.

There is an “Ignore Member” button you can use if you want to. Unfortunately although I have used this for several members you still see their posts if you’re not logged in. As the antiquated software on here keeps logging me out it’s not so useful as it could be.