As a member of the San Francisco KRON4 news channel Forum and being constantly bombarded by members flaming each other regarding the war, etc, I posted a reference to our Simviation Site to see how our members avoid politics, etc, and are pleasant to each other.
I asked them to pop over here now and again for a bit of relaxation and stress relief.
...LOL...!
...am I in time...?

Cheers...
Paul.
(England).

It is interesting to note that as from tonight the San Francisco KRON4 News Channel Forums have been completely closed down due to constant, violent flaming over the Iraqi war.
So that my quiet, peacefull contribution to the site on other topics has been snuffed out... ...!
Lets hope that doesn't happen here... ...!

Cheers all...
Paul.
(England).

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Hi, Paul!

I don't think we'll have that problem.  I've noticed that a lot of people (like you and me ) have wisely refrained from chiming in on these borderline political threads.  Like Pete intimates, the issues are too complex to handle adequately here.  Rash generalities are bound to step on toes.  The talk quickly gets nationalistic and people assume that everybody in a given nation (including the US) has the same views, and this couldn't be farther from the truth.

Sorry about your KRON forums -- hope they get back to normal soon.

Cheers,
Doug

P.S.  Someone mentioned in another thread that you had inquired about my absence, Paul...  Thanks for the concern .  I'm fine and expect to be butting in more frequently now.

I think that we should post news about the war, but please, we don't need the flaming comments.

Don't make any inflamatory posts, just absorb the news.

Thanks for the reminder, Pete.

Sometimes needed, especially during these "controversial" times. However, this time 'round, as I'm sure you've noticed me comment in several threads, I have found everyone minding their "P's & Q's" and not making personal comments or generalising about any group, be they nation, sex, religion or whatever.

My opinion is that there is a "political aspect" to many things we speak about. This war is a very important part of all our lives, particularly those in the coalition countries. Not to monitor and speak of it would be unnatural and, come to think of it, restrictive.
There is not so much political content than opinion with regard to freedom, threat of harm and concern for our world.

Australia is upset at the US subsidising their wheat farmers and causing our farmers great hardship. That's politics. It's also very uninteresting and not of very much importance except to our farmers (at least it didn't stop us from going to war with the US). So, I think "political" is the wrong description to give to these, shall we call them "controversial" threads.

Also, speaking of "controversial", just one question from one who honestly does not know, to all Americans.............

The word "Yank" has been AFFECTIONATELY used by (Australians especially) since WWII to describe our American friends. I have heard the term used on 1950's Bugs Bunny Cartoons (by Yosamite Sam) and in this forum and others, over a good deal of time, have never had an American take offence.
I believe the Union soldiers in the Civil War were called "Yankees" by their Southern brothers. But apart from this 138 year old reference, I'm unable to find any reason why it might cause offence today.
If one was to be offended, would they be Northern or Southern? (I've looked at the US map and have been unable to find a line which defines those descriptions, given my knowledge of which States were Union and which were Confederate).

Incidentally, the only time in Australian history that we have been a little upset with our US friends is during the War, when the GI's were "stealing" all our women. 

The slogan went like this:

Q.  "What's wrong with the Yanks?"

A.  "They're OVER paid, OVER sexed and OVER 'ere!"

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Thanks for the explanation, Doug. Much appreciate.

We certainly don't (and never have) meant any offence by the term Yank, and I'm sure, neither have the Brits. In fact, as I said, it is a affectionate term. So please all US citizens, please treat this as a blanket apology, explanation, excuse for the past and future use of the term. It is really what we call (and have called since WWII) all Americans (regardless of north or south loyalties) and it's so ingrained, especially in a land where more of our language is slang then is not (I have to modify my speech heavily in order to be understood here) that I would have difficulty remebering to edit it from my posts when translating from Australian to English.

As for the Rhyming slang, when we say "Septic" (not Tank) it is not so affectionate............

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I am not necessarily an uncultivated Southerner, depends upon who you ask.   Normally I do not take offense at the term "Yank". I understand it for what it is. The key is in the line "If it is in good cheer". And most other Americans see it this way.

If you will notice that my comment about it was followed by a smilie that had a wink or something like that.

I for one do not care to have war talk excluded - freedom of speech is what I am all about. However, with that freedom comes the responsibility to know when to keep your mouth shut when your insensative comments might offend a friend. Kinda makes 'em think that they are not welcome nor a friend.

Now I know that I have not been onboard here very long and few of you know me. I am aware that few of you could care less whether I stay or go. I would like to stay. Stay for the whole site - not just a few to avoid the forums that talk politics.

But I will not stand idly by while people badmouth my country. There is a fine line between healthy critisism and outright hostility.

Case in point? Read the thread about the American friendly fire that killed the two Brits. And then read the thread about the Brit friendly fire incedent. If you are open minded you will see my point. The same people that were so outraged about the American incedent were conciliatory about their own troops mistakes. And that is exactly what it was in BOTH cases - mistakes and accidents - that was all it was. And every country can make them. American Grunts are no more trigger happy killers than Brits are.

Ah, to hell with it. I am tired of argueing and trying to get people to be civil with each other and apply the same standards to others that they apply to themselves.

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if i remember correctly there was a second part, a "yank" response

Oso,

For my part, if any, in being insensitive in the thread you mention, I apologize, and regret any insensitivity that may have been evident.

The "Grunt" comment was mine. I don't think I dealt with either incident with a double standard. Neither involved my countrymen, but easily could have, on either end of such a mistake.

I have read again, as you suggested, and I do see where one incident seems to have incited criticism and the other, understanding.
I would like to think that it had more to do with the fact that the thread had spanned a period of time that reflected a change in general attitude. I'm sure our Pommy friends didn't mean to "point the bone" at the US services and not their own.

But for the sake of all, especially myself and yourself, I would hate to see someone leave the forums under any kind of controversial circumstance, unless they were the deserved one. You are not.

I am sorry for my part. 

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Thanks, Mate.

No, I don't for a moment think that most people in Western Nations, at least, are, or live any differently than I do. (except the odd emu attack while on the dunny!).

The references I made with regard to the "American influende" has really been going on since the War (WWII). But it does seem to have gotten a bit out of hand in the last 10-15 years.
I've seen movies and TV shows where, as part of the plot, there is one or more white blokes attempting to behave in that distinctly "black manner" (no offence intended, just a particular way, that we are all familiar with) and when white Americans try it on, it's ridiculous, so you can imagine white Aussies (or even worse Aboriginals) fancying themselves as "BAD".

Imagine the comical content of Richard Prior and Gene Wilder in "Stir Crazy" coupled with true national embarrassment.