True, and the off-topic threads are occasionally interesting and sometimes amusing.

You have to be careful though. I (personally) find the restaurant owners actions despicable and extremely offensive.

I don't find the posting of the link to the article a particularly offensive action, indeed I view the report in an ironic sense as in "look at this guy -'We have to save the world from bigotry and mindless xenophobia by stirring up hatred against these nations'". Nice one.

However, irony doesn't travel well, especially across language barriers.

There is also plenty of room for cultural confusion and faux pas.

On a motorcycle list I belong to I came back after one weekend to find 4000 email message in my mailbox for a list which normally would produce a couple of hundred posts at most.

The cause? One of my fellow Brits had made the mistake of championing a change in UK gun law which barred the public from owning fully automatic weapons. He did this on an international mailing list. Oops.

I don't think I've ever seen a list descend into internecine vitriol and high tempered flaming so quickly, for a observation which was completely benign and would hardly raise an eyebrow here.

Needless to say, the "g" word is avoided at all costs.

So, post what you like in this forum if you think it might be of general interest, but be prepared to remove or modify it if it causes offense - even if you don't fully understand the reasons.

If you do see something here you feel strongly about either:
  • Ignore it
  • Contact the poster by private mail and explain why
This forum is a well behaved and friendly place, and no-one posts with the intention of deliberately causing distress or starting flame wars.

[ 27. February 2003, 10:45: Message edited by: Richard H. ]