Scam artist around Finsbury Park

checkski

Another (fairly obvious) point. Miss Annie says she is very much against policing free speech.  When she was the victim of some of the foulest abuse l have ever seen on this forum, was the moderator wrong to remove it? Of course not . And every democracy has libel and slander laws. Quite right too. Arkady went one step further and removed the offender altogether. I miss some of her lively opinions, although often not agreeing with them, but she was becoming more and more abusive. Was Arkady policing free speech? Yes. He had no choice. If you used the  'n' word you refer too as abuse, in a public place, you would be arrested.There is no such thing as completely free speech,  and nor should there be. That still leaves plenty of space for discussion of topics other than restaurants and electricians on SG.org, but unfortunately that's the direction the punters have chosen to go in.

miss annie

<p>All I have to say about that is that I didn't see it or ask for it to be removed but as the person concerned periodically spouts what I imagine is the same sort of stuff on a widely used social media platform I have got quite used to ignoring it. The intention is to provoke and I'm not interested, I grew up with younger sisters and am more than used to ignoring tantrums. I have no interest in going into any more detail but ranting and abusing someone you know in real life is a slightly different matter.</p><p>Whilst I thank Arky for removing it, and thank the people who apparently asked him to, I probably wouldn't have. Stuff like that says more about the person throwing abuse than the person being abused. </p><p>If I used the N word in anger it would be abuse. If a person of colour used it it would not necessarily be abuse. It's context that counts. That's why I don't think G.Joe's use of the word hooker was wrong.</p>

Papa

Miss Annie is right, this is not the place for debate any more, or heaven help us even a joke. <div>(Am I allowed to use the word heaven here, I'm catholic so I guess I can claim it.)</div><div><div><br></div><div>What sparked this was clearly a joke, aimed at no one in particular.</div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">To conflate that with what turned into a nasty spat between two members is wrong - and I also don't think the latter should have been banned.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Checksi, I have no desire to get into an argument with you or Sutent. However, it may be worth noting that a certain attitude, such as that towards light-hearted comments brought out here and when you previously got upset with something I wrote about Corbyn, actively discourages people from getting involved in debate or even a joke.</div><div><br></div><div>Why bother if you have to put every single thing you write under the microscope? That didn't use to happen on here. It does now. I'm not the kind of person who likes battling it out as an internet warrior, so I just post much less. I'll bet others do to.</div><div><br></div><div>I hate it when people wheel out the old 'used to be better' line on forums, as things change and you either get on with it or move on. But I must admit the new po-faced SG.org is not the one I used to love.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>

miss annie

Seconded. I post much less for much the same reasons.

checkski

This really is unfair. I had no idea I was being blamed for the conversational downsizing. You are being oversensitive, it seems to me. Temperatures rise, but there's no need to flounce. Perhaps 'flounce' riles you both slightly; fair enough. I don't much care for 'squawk', but it would take much more than that to see me off. We have a genuine difference of opinion here, and we are discussing it. Good. Let's have more of the same although, as Arky warns, we should keep it reasonably civil. Squawk over!

miss annie

You aren't being blamed, it seems to be a move by a small group of people. Stroud Green itself has changed and I think that is reflected here. I'm a fan of flounce, no offence taken to that.

verga

I don't think SG has changed, though it is clear that SG.org has changed<div><br></div><div>Would you believe that my nanny has had to resort to paying her plumber for the work he has done on her new flat in organic produce? Astonishing<br><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>

miss annie

I bet that somewhere in N4/N8 the plumber is then bartering the produce for psychotherapy and writing it up in an article for The Guardian.

gardener-joe

...

kreuzkav

The most entertaining debate on here for a while.  @ Miss Annie the bartering comment is so funny.

Papa

Checkski, I give up. You've illogically browbeaten me into submission again.<div><div><br></div><div>I'm off to a brothel with the plumber and nanny to discuss Corbynism.</div></div>

Ali

<p>Corbynism</p><p> </p><p>Has been submitted for inclusoin in the Collins Dictonary.</p><p> </p><p>I wonder what it means ?</p>

Sutent

A really good article in the guardian today about psychotherapy. Out unconscious are fascinating places

conformable_kate

Refers to the inhabitants of Corbyn St, N4, and by extension those living nearby. Characterised by an excessive preoccupation with some or all of plumbers, builders, nannies, psychotherapists, hipsters, trains, gentrification and social media. Disposition basically friendly but can appear hostile when provoked (several of above topics likely to push relevant buttons).

Papa

Kate's reply definitely needs a like button.

Arkady

I think it's healthy that this conversation is being had, especially if it helps to relax people a bit when it comes to the topics that people feel able to discuss, and in what tone. As long as you are not personally abusive or slanderous then you're very unlikely to face any moderation. Yes, as in all walks of life you should aim to be kind and charitable, but this forum is not patrolled by the tone police. Yes, it was once necessary to remove a particular user who l felt that they could not commit to withholding abuse. I recognise that this has led to a degree of self-restraint, perhaps excessive self-restraint on the behalf of many users. That was probably inevitable and probably useful for a time. But Arky says relax. In particular I'd like to see more photshopped pictures of Godzilla destroying Stroud Green landmarks.

kreuzkav

@ Arkady.  The Devil- opers are doing Godzilla's job.<div><br></div><div>@ Papa.  Second it that Kate's reply was most amusing.  Corbyn as a verb could mean to feel aggrieved at the way New Labour are as bad as The Conservatives, apart from some decent social policies.</div>

krappyrubsnif

Delighted to see some refreshing gloves-off debate back on here. Nothing wrong with a robust exchange of views. And boo to the word police. Next?

kreuzkav

Yes, it's good to see.

checkski

Next, Krappy? My revenge,  that's what. Krappy just thrashed me at chess. And, on the vexed 'h' word,  he called me PC. I knew somebody would, sooner or later.  Squawk.

kreuzkav

Were you dueling at the Park Tavern or at a more sedate cafe?  'H' means ...

checkski

1) Gadz.   2) The subject of the foregoing discussion. The word G/Joe so gallantly withdrew. H****r. Got it? As I am PC, I daren't come any closer.

kreuzkav

Sorry, I thought it was scrabble, not chess.  You mean by H a profession that sells a product?  

miss annie

<p>A person who makes hooks. It's the oldest profession.</p>

Sutent

Can also play front row in rugby scrum

Papa

I thought we were talking about pirates

krappyrubsnif

We almost failed to start the game. Chess pieces are traditionally 'men'. And is 'checkmate' a sexist term? Shouldn't that be 'check[insert non-gender-specific term]? On the other hand the most powerful piece is the queen. This is why chess is such an accurate reflection of life. No doubt that Checkski got a right royal checkmating though.

checkski

He's right, folks. I lost my queen early on, through gross carelessness. In my revolutionary youth it could perhaps have been a 1917 moment, but now, in my dotage,I was unable to seize power, and was revealed to be no more than an armchair socialist. No champagne, though. I hadn't sunk that low. I had to make do with Hussain's cappuccino. Fine armchair, on the other hand.

kreuzkav

Checkski, you armchair socialist.  I'm sure you were regal sitting on it despite losing your queen.

dion

checkmate is the king is dead, so not sexist