What an odd expression that is!

Brushes are pretty useful things.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

I would like to think my father was selective with whom he procreated, unlike myself, who considers "any hole a goal"

Talking of which, this thread is getting really , really @n@l.
A football forum influencing international policy,...Hmmmm.

"The facts have changed", Rishi Sunak

But your idea of 'participating in debates' has been to say that certain things shouldn't be said.

You want to shape opinion not by the marketplace of ideas but by the exclusion of those you don't like.

Besides, what I've said is an opinion held by many anyway....people should listen to differing arguments or points and make their own minds up.....not only hear filtered opinions.

Edited by Stirlingsays (08 May 2022 1.11pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

You also said that, which essentially could be said for any time and amounts to the same, 'shut up' mantra.

For anyone who might believe your 'untrue' statement I will quote what you said once again for their eyes.

'Why on earth you say some of the nonsense you do is beyond comprehension sometimes. When the timing of any statement can impact the consequences, it can hurt everyone.'

People can then assess who's interpretation is a realistic good faith one and which is language manipulation after the fact.

I would say it's far more ethical than pretending that this war came out of nowhere...again, I don't agree with the invasion but that doesn't mean that Nato's eastern expansion hasn't always had its critics.....saying that people should shut up amounts to hiding realities in favour of one narrative.

If we were actually at war with our own fighting troops perhaps the idea that criticism would demotivate them has some merit....however that didn't stop hundreds of thousands protesting during the Iraq war and while you might be a neo-con....I no longer am.

Farage has criticised Nato expansion eastwards for years. He isn't 'shutting up' and has a huge platform. Why don't you write a letter or something rather than moaning at me.

Farage has been saying for years. He's always said that Nato expansion eastwards was 'poking the bear' and he's been proven correct. My position was that the west should always have worked in conjunction with Russia instead of railroading over them. Putin isn't lying when he states that he offered to join Nato itself and was rebuffed.

I don't stand for hiding history in favour of what's omitted reality you personally prefer.

These are ridiculous points.

I've already answered them above.....what you are in essence saying is that any view that isn't the government's shouldn't be aired.

I don't regard that as western.

In fact ironically it's very soviet and authoritarian.....in fact it's identical to Putin's media position in Russia.

Edited by Stirlingsays (08 May 2022 1.58pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

President of Georgia Zurabishvili says the Ukrainians have been aggressive in communications and want 'more and more' and ask Georgia to open a second front. 'All this is impossible', she adds.

[Link]

It seems rather obvious that since western leaders visited that the Ukraine have been encouraged not to make any concessions for a peace treaty and instead fight Russia for Nato.

I don't really care who wins what in these border disputes however I do care about the consequences for us here.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

I hear you.

I should think most of us feel similar to everything you've said.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)