Welcome and introductions

First topic message reminder :

Around the autumn of 2007 I came across the MSN message boards and found one entitled "UK Politics" which I joined and enjoyed for over three and a half years, then around April 2011 MSN decided in their wisdom to close down that particular message board.

Over time the MSN message board posters had become like friends, and though I had never met any of them, they became as familiar as the regulars I have a pint with in the local village pub, one or two were fairly nasty and quite vile, most were very pleasant people.

Fortunately, one of the redundant MSN bloggers (Ivan) decided to start his own political blogging site, and many of the old MSN posters followed him to his newly created site, and after a competition to find a name, it was agreed to call it "Cutting Edge".

I have to point out that Ivan ran things in a very fair and democratic way, the members decided the rules, they chose the name and logo, several of us were appointed as moderators and common sense prevailed.

Unfortunately the host of our board was "ProBoards" whom I would definately NOT recommend to anyone, they pulled the plug and closed Cutting Edge down saying that we had broken the rules.
To this day we still do not know what rule(s) were broken, and by whom, we wrote very polite emails to ProBoards asking for an explanation, but we got no answer other than "you broke the rules".

And so here we are WELCOME

Who ?!!

Never heard of brownboots1.....sorry......

Cheers Moonie

Nighty night !

Aha !! At last..10 postings so I should be able to PM you now Ivan !!

Goodnight, Mac.

And Goodnight, Moonie.

I'm off to bed myself now......catch you all again soon I hope !!!

Ivan wrote:Penderyn, my sincere apologies.

On the entire welcome board only the staff can start threads, and (for rather obvious reasons) only the staff can write on the posting rules thread. Of course we wanted members to be able to write on the welcome and suggestions threads, but the required settings were rather complicated and I didn't get them right first time.

Yes, some of us knew each other previously. Some of us were at MSN before those discussion boards were closed, and some of the members here know each other from UK Debate. There are, however, quite a few members who haven't been on either of those forums and came here on their own or by personal invitation. And what does it matter as we're all in this together? Now where have I heard that before?

Fine - understood. Thanks and thanks also to Moonbeam.

Thanks Moon, for the link. Good to see a couple names from the old MSN and Proboards sites.

As I was not able to get access to the "introduction" sub-forum I will do it here !

Hi folks...

I am a retired Civil Servant from Scotland and although my pseudonym here is Papaumau, ( some may already know it as I use it all over the internet ), but even if you don't, for ease of typing you can call me Papa if you like.

I am interested in politics and I am an unapologetic lefty - if not a Communist.

I have fought long and hard for fairness in British politics and I have always been a champion for the underdog in our cruel society. That is why I created my own consumer website which has five sub-forums within it. I will not say the name unless I am asked as that is not allowed by people like me who have just arrived at a new place of interaction with others.

I am now going to go away and read for a while but I WILL be back after I have acquired the "flavour" of the forum.

Later.....

Papaumau.

Welcome aboard, the Trade Union movement might not have survived in the face of the 1980s Thatcher onslaught without determined support of Scottish stalwarts. The question remaining unanswered however is whether places like Govan shipyard were betrayed by Tory dogma or workers' adherence to antique working methods.

I still think that "Militant Tendency" and the Communist Party UK had a lot to do with the downfall of the labour party. That Kinnock allowed such infiltration to his party and was so desperate for votes, he chased away his chore supporters.

Not quite correct there, astra. It was Kinnock who took on the 'Militant Tendency' in 1985 and expelled them from the party:-
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It's a pity that the Tories were taken over by the rabid right - in the form of Keith Joseph and Thatcher - and have allowed neocons to control their party ever since.

Ivan, off topic so I'll be quick - by 1985, the damage had been done!

Bus deregulation
Mines and steel and shipbuilding
Oh where to stop?

I feel that if anybody REALLY wants to know what happened in those dark old days all you have to do is talk to the Average Scot. As I consider myself to be an "average Scot" I will save you all the trouble of taking the train to Edinburgh.

After the Tories - mostly led by Maggie Thatcher - twisted the knife in the Scottish people people over and over again the indefatigable Scots turned on her and her party and threw ALL of them out of Scotland.

At that time there was not one Tory returned to Westminster and long since then there is now only one miserable Tory sent from Scotland to Westminster. That, to me, says a lot !

Now if only the rest of the country could only know them for what they are they would not get elected in the rest of the country either.

The last time they came to the British people to get elected they could not even acquire a working majority and they had to go to the traitorous Liberal Democrat opportunists to get a majority in the commons.

Regards....

Papaumau

As I (sort of) indicated before, I had it in mind to introduce myself, and think I will anyway, even if I've been here some time now. I probably seem a bit one-dimensionally committed, but that is not from want of thinking,

I'm quite old, married with four children, academic of sorts, brought up close to the CP in the Rhondda Harry Pollitt stood for. The Old Man was speaking on CP platforms back in '26 as a schoolboy (his grandfather was an important Liberal councillor is why) . Our local doctor, his best friend, was also a friend of Paul Robeson's. Family were involved in Rebecca movement, Merthyr Rising and the March on Newport, and some escaped to Patagonia. Anarchist in School (Anarchist Club stamped out bullying) and studied Mandarin (Jong Gwo) in RAF. Was Secretary of my University Socialist Club (Chairman now a High Court Judge, the bugger!), active in New Left and CND, Union Rep, Trades' Council Rep etc., Branch Secretary of an International Socialist Branch then Constituency Labour Party Membership Sec (upped membership hugely). Left when Kinnock droned in, and joined Plaid Cymru.

Wife's family Physical Force Chartists (one jailed in Wakefield for armed rebellion, had to get off to Australia, on Woolcombers Association loan when blacklisted). Two of his brothers went US to fight slavery. Two of my kids were in SWP and Miltant. Father was parson, Mother atheist, leaving possiblities open. Both fluent in Cymraeg, never ever thought of voting tory. I speak four languages, mostly badly, write poems, paint and quarrel with tories. Onwards and upwards!

Wow, Kalitay, I'm glad to see you have made your return! I have often wondered if you would ever come back. If I recall, you left just before the arrival of a new family member? I hope that went well for you, and may I offer my congratulations! I've been hanging in there, but it's been a struggle the last month or so with no sign of abatement. I hope to see you around more often!

Hi again Shirina

Yes thank you, the birth went well and our 'collection' is now complete, which we've realised brings things to a new stage. We've got our children, but in a few years we may also be able to do again some of the things we did when it was just us.

It's quite a test to 'rearrange' the marriage when the children come, and now we have to prepare to adjust once more. It should be a great time but there can be difficulties too. A positive attitude is the key.



''No sign of abatement'' is a sad thing to hear. I really hope things do get better - surely somehow they will; but I'll try not to say anything you'll disagree with so strongly that you'll feel compelled to type a long rebuttal

Take care

It's quite a test to 'rearrange' the marriage when the children come, and now we have to prepare to adjust once more. It should be a great time but there can be difficulties too. A positive attitude is the key.

Yes, my family was never known for adjusting well after children were born. I think the divorce rate in my little clan is around 96%, and they all occurred just after the children came. But I know you too well, Kalitay (*wink*) and I am confident that your wonderful demeanor will get you through whatever challenges await. Just remember how fast it will all go by, and in another eye blink, your new addition will be leaving home for the first time - and you'll be thinking, "Where did all the time go?"

but I'll try not to say anything you'll disagree with so strongly that you'll feel compelled to type a long rebuttal

LOL! Well, you know, Kalitay, I would accept any help right now, and if God/Allah saw fit to help (healing would be nice), I would convert in a heartbeat.

Take care.

But I know you too well, Kalitay (*wink*) and I am confident that your wonderful demeanor will get you through whatever challenges await. Just remember how fast it will all go by, and in another eye blink, your new addition will be leaving home for the first time - and you'll be thinking, "Where did all the time go?"

Shirina, just to hear this kind of sentiment is inspiring. My wife and I are actually very different as individuals, but we share core values: we both love children, we both believe that marriage is for life. She's even said to me that ''I know you'd never cheat on me, but even if you did I'd never leave you, because you're mine, and when something's mine I cherish it and never abandon it''. My own feelings are similar, and so the mutual feeling of security creates a tranquil, trusting atmosphere free from angst.

And yes, the kids grow up way too fast. Each of the little things they do that make you laugh so much are things they'll do for a little while, maybe a few months, and then never again. But that's the way life is - always moving from one place to another.

LOL! Well, you know, Kalitay, I would accept any help right now, and if God/Allah saw fit to help (healing would be nice), I would convert in a heartbeat.

Then I pray that that happens, and that you ascribe it to God when it does, so that you'll be both free of pain and due for reward.

If I have time I'll address a couple of comments on the main board, so I might see you over there.

See you Shirina

Kalitay, we have LOTS of other threads apart from this one, if you can find an opportunity to look.



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Hi , I was asked to join Cutting Edge by someone from another forum on behalf of another who I guess is a member of this forum, all very cloak and dagger . It looks a great forum , with plenty of diverse opinions and debates , will now check out some of the forums, qwerty fingers at the ready ha ha .

Hello Scarecrow, and welcome to the forum. Yes, I spotted your obvious talent when reading that 'other forum' and asked one of our members who frequents both sites to invite you here!

I'm told that we're more friendly than the other place. Please read our posting rules, and the info about starting threads and copyright on this first board. In order to keep the forum simple and user friendly, I do have a habit of merging threads which are similar, in order to prevent the 'dilution' of the discussion of a particular topic.

I hope you enjoy the forum. If you do, tell your friends. If you don't, tell one of the admin staff (preferably Shirina...lol).

tell one of the admin staff (preferably Shirina...lol).

This sounds suspiciously like a "go ask your mother" scenario.

That's the problem with being second in command, huh Shirina?


Welcome, Scarecrow!

Just a quick note to say hello. Someone kindly invited me here

Welcome indeed.

Love your tune!

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Apologies was in a rush earlier, coffee break now though

Just a bit of background, I'm very interested in history, particularily medieval history, but I'm fairly widely read and interested in WW1 and WW2.
One of my main hobbies is visting medieval fortifications, large and small, great tourist attractions, lonely mounds of earth and generally forgotten places

betty.noire. Here's an idea for a discussion topic on our 'History Channel' - did the Black Death provoke the first great conflict between capital and labour? You will no doubt know that, in response to the shortage of labour after 40% of the population had died in two years, Parliament passed the Statute of Labourers of 1351. That required people to work for the same conditions as pre-Black Death. Parliament was looking after vested interests - how little has changed!

OK it always takes a bit of time for newby posters to get a grip and reconnoitre the lay of the land, so to speak. I call this figurative homoeostasis; a time of adjustment.

Now I have settled in I am enjoying this refuge of free speech, free from spoilers. My former haunt was Sky News but unfortunately a seriously annoying element were forever expunging free speech - even though it did not break the de facto rules.

I may not agree with what other people may say, but like the quote says, I would always defend their right to say it.

Well done to the guys who founded this sanctuary of free expression.

AwfulTruth. Many thanks; comments like those make all the hard work worthwhile.

We're not allowed to advertise on this site - only forumotion.com can do that - but I hope that any member planning a Greek island holiday will send you a PM and benefit from your expertise on the subject!

oftenwrong wrote:Did Magna Carta die in vain?

The most over rated document in English history

Hi.

I'm Helen, or "Blamhappy".

Ivan invited me to join, so I did. Easy!

So far, I've posted a few times in the politics section, and on a thread about Hilary Devey. Random, huh?

Just been reading a few comments above. I, too, believe in free speech, although the recent imprisonment of the racist from Twitter has challenged me a bit. It's not straight forward, is it?

Anyway, so hello