Sorry PJ think i'm getting a bit forgetful although I dont think you needed to send it twice one chastisement wudda sufficed. Mick

In my experience, this forum is no different to any other internet forum. I am a member of half a dozen other forums and they are all the same. There is always a group of prolific posters who tend to hijack threads but these posters are usually the ones who are the most helpful when advice is sought. There will always be differences of opinion and sometimes things get heated, internet forums are similar to a bunch of lads having a chat in a pub, the only difference is we are all sitting in front of a keyboard and screen and not sitting around a table. How many times have you seen a bunch of lads in the pub having a robust debate on politics, sport etc? Its human nature to have different opinions and to sometimes defend those opinions robustly, so as we are all human, it is inevitable that it is going to happen here.
I don't think any outsider, who has experience of internet forums, coming to this discussion forum will be shocked by what goes on in here occasionally.
I would not be put off from posting here for fear of getting flamed, I have a very thick skin and can fight my corner, if it gets to heated and personal, I just indicate that I will not post again in the thread, replying to other posters who flame you just keeps it going i.e. do not feed the troll.
All in my humble opinion of course.

I agree with Mick C above. I wouldn't be bothered with this if it was a sanitised, serious, inhuman conduit of pure unadulterated accurate information. Its the normal human touch here makes it what it is, and well if you're Spock like, find your facts elsewhere is all I can say. One or more people will take that as being deeply insulting and go off in a huff, but whatever.

I am also a member of the Freeman Cruisers Forum, which I find brilliant. It is web based, has high level categories / rooms such as 'Engine Room', 'Repair Bay' and 'Freeman Chat' which are pretty self explanatory and means you know what you will get if you enter those 'Rooms'...

In the last year in that forum I have only seen one personal attack, which was quickly dealt with by other forum members...

Perhaps a division of the forum into 'Rooms' would help both readers and posters? Each room could have a moderator and posting guidelines, such as 'Engine related topics only' for example?

Mark.