JohnK

Absolutely. There’s nothing wrong with there being a majority opinion or being part of that majority. The issue here is how the minority are treated.

I’m not complaining about my treatment. I’ve clearly not explained my concerns very well. Sorry.

Normally I would agree with you 100%. I’ve said exactly the same on other forums many times. But this time it isn’t just one person overreacting. I’m only going to say this once more and I’m going to be blunt. Open debate isn’t encouraged here (it used to be but it isn’t right now), if people disagree with the majority view they receive personal attacks. The end result of this is going to be a complete lack of debate here soon. Now, I suspect I’m going to get a lot of posts telling me how wrong I am (probably by mods too). Of course I’m wrong, I hold a minority view. I’m probably an idiot.

However Bob has chosen to leave. Why is that? I have no problem with the likes of yourself raising safety concerns, i think it’s great. Especially when those concerns are raised in appropriate places as JM has done. I don’t know if anyone else has done that. I would question the point of just saying it here. My problem is the reaction other people with opposing views have received. To be clear I’m not saying everyone who’s anti the swim is behaving badly any more than I’m saying everyone who’s pro the swim has behaved well.

I think it’s very sad that someone with a view that is different from the majority feels driven out. Perhaps some people think that’s good as they won’t be challenged anymore. BTW, it’s not just Bob who feels that way, it’s just that some of us aren’t brave enough to say it in the current climate here. I think soon it’s likely that people with a minority opinion will leave here. I hope that’s what the majority want.

Postbox?

When we’re serious about wanting it back we just do the same as China. The government supports industry, people only buy locally made stuff, people want jobs in industry. Easy peasy [emoji6] Will it happen?

I don’t believe I said anything even close to that.

Firstly I’m not saying everyone is doing it. I’m not going to quote individual posts (as that will be even more diversive) but I think when it becomes personal in an attempt to suppress a person’s opinion that’s bullying. In my opinion some of the posts above are personal. But if forum opinion is that that’s ok I’ll leave it.

Ever read about the Ford Pinto recall (or lack of it)?

Whoa there tiger. [emoji57] Please don’t assume you speak for the majority. I’m much more aligned with smellyloo but I haven’t got involved because I don’t want to also be the brunt of what’s fast becoming bullying in my opinion. I suspect I’m not alone. Challenging opinions is fine, accusing people of not knowing things, not having seen things is not ok in my opinion.

I’m pleased to report there are still ten ducklings this morning. See, we can be happy on NBN if we try [emoji57]

I work in the cement industry and a few years ago a Chinese company employed a European company to build a cement plant for them in China. A few years later the Chinese company was selling cement plants to European cement manufacturers. Guess what the kit looked like [emoji57] Some of the early plants were pretty bad but they improved very quickly. At roughly $300m for a plant there’s pretty significant savings to be had even if maintenance does cost a lot more. They might not be very good at boat hulls now (I don’t know, I’m assuming posts above are true) but you can be damn sure if they see a significant market they soon will be.

I’d bet a lot of money there is nobody (me included) here that owns no foreign produced goods when British produced equivalents were available. Chinese does not automatically mean poor quality.

You could say the country betrayed the company by buying on price alone. Most companies don’t move manufacturing overseas on a whim or to “betray the country”, they do it because most people don’t care that stuff is British made, they care that it’s cheap. We reap what we sow.

No idea how long they will last but I bought 4 name stickers for our dinghy for £2.99 off Amazon.

No no no no no, you of all people can’t quote the BA and say their stance should have some bearing on the topic unless you’re going to accept ...... [emoji6]

I wasn’t aware of that. Sorry. I don’t read everything on here. If we’re talking food I’m with you 100% [emoji6]

Perhaps we should ask Mel if that’s how she sees this forum. It seems to me this is a friendly forum just so long as you agree with “approved opinion” In my view the concern for safety on this thread (where genuine) is admirable. Some of the wild assumptions less so. Why does having a different opinion to someone so often turn into personal attacks here?

Interesting post from someone who has criticised a British made security product on another thread in the last couple of hours [emoji6] Sorry, couldn’t resist.

I don’t think I want to play on some of the other depressing threads on here right now. I’m just going to post pictures of ducklings [emoji6]

Very well put Just as soon as people stop saying “it’s not a National Park” [emoji6] I do agree with you but it does work both ways.

All present and correct.

You were outside our cottage taking those [emoji3] And they’re our ducklings [emoji57]