[GEaston]

DP hit the nail on the head, an excellent summary.

While there are many issues here, quite clearly I look at the world from a different perspective to most on here. When in the UK (not much the last 11 years) I vote Tory. That automatically puts me in a 5% minority on this site, and will of course lead to spirited debate about mining, car production, economics, selling the countries gold at the historic low of the price of the metal - you name it we'll argue about it. As everyone knows, I'm not shy of expressing an opinion, and given the political divide I'm always going to be the miniority here. That won't change my view or my politics.

There are those on this board who are just abusive. Cashman, Less and others who in normal circumstances abuse people they don't like off the board. There are many examples of this - witness the attack on Sugarmouse who rarely posts. I on the other hand don't mind their abuse - happy to engage it back, although you won't find me using the same language. I don't think they have anything at all positive to contribute to the town unless someone has found a use for the conversion of oxygen to carbon dioxide.

There are those that dig around my personal profile to try to "out" something about me. I think that's a bit sad also because one should be able to engage a debate without digging into people's personal lives which is not something I've done to anyone here. In return I say Marge which it turns out creates great insult to everyone. That did surprise me - no one minds Grum, Troll or any of the multitude of things I've been called here, including me.

Then there's the folk that need constant proof, such as Barrie. He's taken the attempts to discredit me to a higher level than just rummaging around the internet for details to actually pounding the streets for proof ! Unfortunately he missed the obvious renovation work going on in Warner St and elsewhere so concluded that I must be fake. Having been proven wrong time and again (hopefully he spent $3 at the land registry to see who owns 26, 28 Warner and 28 St James) and the matter could have been put to rest but no.... Today apparently I'm not in Singapore, because of the times I post....? Really Barrie - speak to Margaret - she enjoys online sleuthing and is better at it than you. I'm not hiding or making up anything I say so once again you'll be calling heads to the fall of a double tail coin.

Interestingly, and this should come as no surprise to anyone, there are many people who've been attacked by the merry community here. There's a whole range of people who complain about it in the banned section. I've neither the time nor interest to look at the backgrounds of that - there are too many posts, but I'm not the first nor last to be castigated for not agreeing with founder members. Thats why I raise the profile of the community. I don't think I'm far wrong in saying that most of not all members are over 60, retired, white, and opinionated. That's not what I see walking the streets of Accy. There are some of course but I also see a lot of young folk, and different races/religions all of whom seem to be absent from here. Gotta wonder what welcome they'd receive...

DP made a fair point that I've likely changed my mind about the usefulness of the forum for my needs. It is true that I don't need for the forum to make an assessment of buildings. However I've lived in Singapore for the last 3 years, so it isn't practical to look at places in person. My post about the large empty Oswaldwhistle building generated many useful comments. I can't see that there's next door fire damage, nor does it show on Google Streetview, so in that respect the forum does serve a purpose for me.

If I have any regret, it would simply be one, and that is that Jay seems to have been suckered into your group. That's a genuine pity as he seemed a man of his own mind, and a sane Tory one at that.