Critical thinking, Why? Because apparently I am rubbish at it.

[Gonnagle]

Wise words.

Dear Dicky,

Wise words indeed and two words jump off the page for me ( jump off the post, no jump off the page, more poetical  )

Respect and reciprocal.

Respect.
a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.

due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others.

The term "respect" has a long history, stemming from the Latin word "respectus" meaning "regard" or "looking back". It evolved to encompass ideas of consideration, admiration, and even moral standing, depending on the context.
Elaboration:
Etymological Roots:
"Respect" originates from the Latin verb "respicere," which meant "to look back at, regard, or consider". This initial meaning focused on paying attention and taking something into account.
Evolution of Meaning:
Over time, "respect" acquired nuances of esteem, deference, and even moral consideration. It can mean treating someone with admiration, refraining from interfering, or having reference to something.
Philosophical Perspectives:
Philosophers like Immanuel Kant have explored respect within ethical frameworks, emphasizing its connection to moral worth and dignity. "Moral recognition respect" is a key concept in philosophical discussions, referring to the idea that certain things, like human beings, deserve consideration and valuing.
Social and Cultural Contexts:
Respect plays a crucial role in social interactions and cultural norms, often being associated with leadership, unity, and demonstrating strength. In many cultures, showing respect through participation in activities and adhering to cultural protocols is important.
Examples in History:
The concept of respect has been present in various cultures throughout history, with the ancient Greeks and Romans having concepts related to excellence and virtue. In more recent times, the civil rights movement and the song "Respect" by Aretha Franklin demonstrate how respect can be a powerful force for social change.
Modern Usage:
Today, "respect" is used in numerous contexts, from personal interactions to discussions about ethics and social justice. It's a term that reflects admiration, consideration, and a sense of moral obligation in various situations.

Reciprocal.

In general terms, reciprocal means something is done or felt in return, implying a mutual exchange or relationship between two parties. It's not about being opposite, but about something related and potentially benefiting both sides.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
In everyday language:
Mutual exchange:
Reciprocal actions or agreements involve two parties who agree to help each other or behave in the same way.
"Give and take":
It's about a relationship where each party contributes something to the other, leading to a balanced exchange.
Related in a balanced way:
The relationship between the two parties is connected, and each benefits from the connection.

"You have to earn my respect but you must also reciprocate it."

Which brings me all the way back to Aruns post.

It really is fun watching people compete to see how high up the wall they can piss.


Gonnagle.

[The Accountant, OBE, KC]

Yup, you are right Gordon.

We each choose what we share about ourselves and what we choose not to share. And that is how it should be. And of course what we choose to share might be a pack of lies - we might just all be made up russian bots communicating with each other. But I don't think so.

So on each aspect - on what we choose not to share. Well that is each individual's personal choice and I'm sure most of us have chosen not to share plenty of really personal stuff (although Gordon, you've certainly shared a lot about your cancer - your choice of course). I don't think we should pry or push people to reveal anything that they aren't comfortable to.

On what we choose to share. Well I think we should work on the assumption that it is true, unless someone is clear that it is made up. Firstly, out of courtesy and respect for other posters here, particularly where the things that people have revealed are important to the person that they are. So it seems disrespectful if I was to deny that Vlad or AB are christians, or that you or NS are scottish or VG is a muslim but brought up in another religion etc etc.

But also if we all go about refusing to accept the things that other posters have chosen to reveal about themselves, well this MB would become totally pointless. Why, because the value in the discussion is a combination of what people say and who they are, in other words what we know about their expertise and experiences from what they have chosen to reveal.

So I tend to accept that what other posters have revealed about themselves is true and engage with them on that basis. I don't think it unreasonable to expect that respect to be reciprocal.

Nope - disagree - I'm definitely not buying it if during a discussion a poster says on an anonymous forum that another poster should not get into a particular topic or challenge a particular view or tries to argue that their view on an issue is correct or trumps another poster's view simply BECAUSE and then tries to pull out their supposed credentials as a professor, doctor, Muslim or any other characteristic rather than convince with the strength of their argument.

If PD tries that line of argument then to me PD is no different to AB claiming to be witness to the truth because he claims to have encountered god. I don't know who either of them are, let alone what they may or may not have done or experienced.

Sure you can give your claims of personal experiences or qualifications as anecdotes, but anecdotes are carefully edited versions of what may or may not have happened, not convincing arguments, and while they may give some insight into a poster's perspective on an issue or be an interesting read, there is absolutely no requirement to believe any of these anecdotes or find them persuasive.

This forum is similar to having a drink with some strangers in the pub. If the person in the pub told me they were a mechanic/ lawyer/accountant/doctor and told me to trust their advice based on their say so, why would I?

On the other hand, what may change someone's perspective or be persuasive on an issue are links to research or articles that we can discuss and dissect - on which posters can read and reach their own conclusions.

ETA - hopefully this post is on-topic Gonnagle sir  - as the thread is about critical thinking.

[ProfessorDavey]

Nope - disagree - I'm definitely not buying it if during a discussion a poster says on an anonymous forum that another poster should not get into a particular topic or challenge a particular view or tries to argue that their view on an issue is correct or trumps another poster's view simply BECAUSE and then tries to pull out their supposed credentials as a professor, doctor, Muslim or any other characteristic rather than convince with the strength of their argument.

If PD tries that line of argument then to me PD is no different to AB claiming to be witness to the truth because he claims to have encountered god. I don't know who either of them are, let alone what they may or may not have done or experienced.

Sure you can give your claims of personal experiences or qualifications as anecdotes, but anecdotes are carefully edited versions of what may or may not have happened, not convincing arguments, and while they may give some insight into a poster's perspective on an issue or be an interesting read, there is absolutely no requirement to believe any of these anecdotes or find them persuasive.

This forum is similar to having a drink with some strangers in the pub. If the person in the pub told me they were a mechanic/ lawyer/accountant/doctor and told me to trust their advice based on their say so, why would I?

On the other hand, what may change someone's perspective or be persuasive on an issue are links to research or articles that we can discuss and dissect - on which posters can read and reach their own conclusions.

ETA - hopefully this post is on-topic Gonnagle sir  - as the thread is about critical thinking.

You really do have trust issues, don't you VG.

This MB only works on the basis of trust and mutual respect - without that we might as well all pack up and go home.

[Gonnagle]

You really do have trust issues, don't you VG.

This MB only works on the basis of trust and mutual respect - without that we might as well all pack up and go home.

Dear Prof,

You see! I do try to help, but in one sentence you fall straight into the same hole you were almost out of

Mods! no need to worry, I will get the lights

Gonnagle.

[ProfessorDavey]

This forum is similar to having a drink with some strangers in the pub. If the person in the pub told me they were a mechanic/ lawyer/accountant/doctor and told me to trust their advice based on their say so, why would I?

We are not like strangers who have met in a pub for the first time.

We are more like people who have met in a pub every week for many years - who have shared information about themselves, shared anecdotes, argued, discussed things, driven each other batty at times, supported each other at other times and learned an awful lot through those conversations.

Sure Joe who we've met in the pub every week for years and who claims to be a surgeon in the NHS might not be - but why on earth would we assume not. And if he has been working in the NHS for years I would think that experience gives him better insight into working in the NHS (his area of expertise) than someone else who has never worked in the NHS. So rather than scoff and disbelieve, I think the best approach would be to listen to his views on working within the NHS recognising that he has greater insight.

[The Accountant, OBE, KC]

You really do have trust issues, don't you VG.

Not really - I trust myself to take some basic precautions to try to handle the outcome of new/ unknowable situations - especially on the internet.

I've told my kids that they have no reason to believe what people (including me) tell them without investigating for themselves and forming their own opinions - including about religion.

I am also a big fan of that phrase "recollections can vary".

Anecdote for you - up to you whether you believe it - I used to role-play with my then 2-3 year old while we were sitting around picking flowers when I used to walk her back from nursery - I told her an adult/ older child might one day tell her that she has to go with them, that I had sent them and told them to come collect her, or that they were the police and she had to go with them. I said don't believe it - they are lying - don't leave a public area - I showed her pictures of marked police cars and said if it doesn't look like that they're lying. I said they might yell at her and get really angry or tell her I would be really angry if she disobeyed and didn't go with them. I said don't believe them - they're lying - they're trying to make you feel scared or upset so you'll cave. We practised me yelling at her as though I was that imaginary adult demanding that she goes with them so she knew what it felt like to be yelled at by an adult and could practise her responses.

A few months later London had a lot of snow, my daughter who was in nursery had been briefed before she left home that morning that a family friend (from Australia) who was staying with us would collect her from nursery that day. The friend had no car, so when my brother-in-law who lives around the corner and who we see all the time, drove to the same nursery to pick up his son he phoned our family friend and said he would pick up my daughter and drop her off as it was snowing. My daughter refused to leave the nursery and get in the car with him and her little cousin until my brother-in-law phoned me, put my daughter on the phone to me, and I confirmed to her that she could get in the car with her dad's brother, who she sees all the time. I was pretty impressed that my daughter still remembered the lesson from our summer of flower-picking. Trust no one - they could be lying to you.

This MB only works on the basis of trust and mutual respect - without that we might as well all pack up and go home.

You can pack up and go home if you like. I don't think you need trust on here. It's like a TV show or a film or a book - you can learn a lot about life from fictional characters. Those fictional characters are often based on people from real life.

I certainly don't have respect for someone when they act like a pompous ass PD by making accusations based on their own biases that they can't justify or pull their supposed credentials into a discussion on here. Other people might - I don't.

[The Accountant, OBE, KC]

We are not like strangers who have met in a pub for the first time.

We are more like people who have met in a pub every week for many years - who have shared information about themselves, shared anecdotes, argued, discussed things, driven each other batty at times, supported each other at other times and learned an awful lot through those conversations.

Are we? These anecdotes are just words. People get hoodwinked all the time by people they have spoken to at length but have never actually met, who have spun them stories on the internet. Actually people get hood-winked by people they have met and known for years as well - undercover policemen or Walter Mitty types or people who just believe their own fantasies.

Sure Joe who we've met in the pub every week for years and who claims to be a surgeon in the NHS might not be - but why on earth would we assume not. And if he has been working in the NHS for years I would think that experience gives him better insight into working in the NHS (his area of expertise) than someone else who has never worked in the NHS. So rather than scoff and disbelieve, I think the best approach would be to listen to his views on working within the NHS recognising that he has greater insight.

I remember when I was at Primary school I used to love reading this series of fiction books about a cub scout pack somewhere in England. Based on the books I'd read I actually managed to convince a classmate - a boy who I sat with every day who was a cub scout -  that I was the only girl who had been allowed to join a local cub scout group instead of the girl guides. We used to sometimes discuss what we each got up to at Cub scouts.

[ProfessorDavey]

Anecdote for you - up to you whether you believe it - I used to role-play with my then 2-3 year old while we were sitting around picking flowers when I used to walk her back from nursery - I told her an adult/ older child might one day tell her that she has to go with them, that I had sent them and told them to come collect her, or that they were the police and she had to go with them. I said don't believe it - they are lying - don't leave a public area - I showed her pictures of marked police cars and said if it doesn't look like that they're lying. I said they might yell at her and get really angry or tell her I would be really angry if she disobeyed and didn't go with them. I said don't believe them - they're lying - they're trying to make you feel scared or upset so you'll cave. We practised me yelling at her as though I was that imaginary adult demanding that she goes with them so she knew what it felt like to be yelled at by an adult and could practise her responses.

A few months later London had a lot of snow, my daughter who was in nursery had been briefed before she left home that morning that a family friend (from Australia) who was staying with us would collect her from nursery that day. The friend had no car, so when my brother-in-law who lives around the corner and who we see all the time, drove to the same nursery to pick up his son he phoned our family friend and said he would pick up my daughter and drop her off as it was snowing. My daughter refused to leave the nursery and get in the car with him and her little cousin until my brother-in-law phoned me, put my daughter on the phone to me, and I confirmed to her that she could get in the car with her dad's brother, who she sees all the time. I was pretty impressed that my daughter still remembered the lesson from our summer of flower-picking. Trust no one - they could be lying to you.

Says the person claiming not to have trust issues

But your anecdote is about a child - an inherently vulnerable person where there are clear risks. But what risks are any of us taking engaging in the MB, even if we (as you seem to believe) are making up our forum personas. What would we be likely to gain in that - would need to be a remarkably long game of deceit given that many of us have been interacting on this MB and the old BBC one for years.

So I'm sorry VG, but I do not believe that the things we choose to share on this MB aren't true and even if I was wrong about that what risks would I (or you) be taking. I'm sorry but I tend to be a trusting person and I'm sorry that you appear not to be.

[The Accountant, OBE, KC]

Says the person claiming not to have trust issues

But your anecdote is about a child - an inherently vulnerable person where there are clear risks. But what risks are any of us taking engaging in the MB, even if we (as you seem to believe) are making up our forum personas. What would we be likely to gain in that - would need to be a remarkably long game of deceit given that many of us have been interacting on this MB and the old BBC one for years.

So I'm sorry VG, but I do not believe that the things we choose to share on this MB aren't true and even if I was wrong about that what risks would I (or you) be taking. I'm sorry but I tend to be a trusting person and I'm sorry that you appear not to be.

Are you telling me that if we were having a discussion on here about Non-Doms and I made some statement about the tax legislation or what happens in practice and told you, trust me I'm an accountant so I know more about it than you do, that you wouldn't go look up the tax legislation for yourself rather than take my word for it?

Even if I really am an accountant why should that carry any weight in our discussion unless I can link to the legislation to convince you?

Even when I phone up HMRC or a Tax Helpline (supposedly full of experts with access to all kind of legislation and Practice Notes at their fingertips) I don't believe what they tell me - I always ask them to tell me the references for the legislation, I have them stay on-line while I look it up, I read it through with them, and I sometimes find they have made a mistake in their interpretation.

[ProfessorDavey]

Even if I really am an accountant why should that carry any weight in our discussion unless I can link to the legislation to convince you?

Of course it would carry more weight if you are an accountant talking about accountancy issues (i.e. something in their area of expertise) compared to someone who has no expertise in that area. You seem to be coming across all Michael Gove.

[ProfessorDavey]

Even when I phone up HMRC or a Tax Helpline (supposedly full of experts with access to all kind of legislation and Practice Notes at their fingertips) I don't believe what they tell me ...

Nope - no trust issues to see here - no siree.

[The Accountant, OBE, KC]

Nope - no trust issues to see here - no siree.

If you ever try phoning up HMRC to get any advice on anything that is not completely straightforward you will find out that different people working in HMRC will give you conflicting advice. It just depends on who you get on the other end of the phone. As a rule you should phone up at least 3 times to cross-check any info or advice they give you. 

A lot of them will also not put anything they have said in writing on an email.

Feel free to disregard this, but my experience is it would be very unwise to trust that some random person on the other end of the phone within HMRC has got it right - always best to double-check by asking them which Guidance or Practice note or statute and section number and clause they are interpreting.

Same with law firms - seen plenty of typos and pretty significant errors in documents sent to me by law firms. 

[The Accountant, OBE, KC]

But what risks are any of us taking engaging in the MB, even if we (as you seem to believe) are making up our forum personas. What would we be likely to gain in that - would need to be a remarkably long game of deceit given that many of us have been interacting on this MB and the old BBC one for years.

So I'm sorry VG, but I do not believe that the things we choose to share on this MB aren't true and even if I was wrong about that what risks would I (or you) be taking. I'm sorry but I tend to be a trusting person and I'm sorry that you appear not to be.

There are no risks. My only point was that I would not be convinced by the argument of someone on an anonymous forum who says "I must be more correct than you or trust me I know what I am talking about because I am a ..."[fill in the blank]

What's wrong with just letting the argument stand or fall on its own merits?

[ProfessorDavey]

If you ever try phoning up HMRC to get any advice on anything that is not completely straightforward you will find out that different people working in HMRC will give you conflicting advice. It just depends on who you get on the other end of the phone. As a rule you should phone up at least 3 times to cross-check any info or advice they give you. 

Blimey, no wonder the rest of us can never get through to the HMRC help line - VG is monopolising it!

Nope - no trust issues to see here - no siree.

I trust you are consistent in your approach - I presume you expect to see three doctors before accepting any medical advice, and surely you cannot rely on consulting just one Imam - three surely. And come to think of it you cannot possible rely on just one religious text, e.g. the Koran - surely before taking any advice on a religious matter you'll consult at least three sacred scripts.

But then again I don't know why you'd bother seeing as you seem to think that a bit of random googling by someone with no expertise carries just as much weight as the opinion of a trained and experienced expert discussing matters in their area of expertise.

[The Accountant, OBE, KC]

Blimey, no wonder the rest of us can never get through to the HMRC help line - VG is monopolising it!

Would you as a client be happy to pay your accountant and be told by them "oh sorry we gave you the wrong advice but some bloke on the other end of phone at HMRC told me XYZ and we just took his word for it"?  Only to find out later that the bloke at HMRC got it wrong and it has cost them a significant amount of money - either because they paid tax they did not need to pay or because they could have structured a transaction differently to avoid tax or they are liable for tax they should have paid and are now liable for a penalty plus interest on unpaid tax.

Nope - no trust issues to see here - no siree.

I trust you are consistent in your approach - I presume you expect to see three doctors before accepting any medical advice, and surely you cannot rely on consulting just one Imam - three surely. And come to think of it you cannot possible rely on just one religious text, e.g. the Koran - surely before taking any advice on a religious matter you'll consult at least three sacred scripts.

But then again I don't know why you'd bother seeing as you seem to think that a bit of random googling by someone with no expertise carries just as much weight as the opinion of a trained and experienced expert discussing matters in their area of expertise.

If they were giving me medical or any other advice anonymously or on an internet forum, I think only someone really gullible would take their word for it that they were an expert or know what they're talking about.

What makes you think I get advice from an Imam? Anyway, YouTube is full of imams and various other people giving lectures about religion and contradicting each other - and there are of course multiple interpretations of verses in any religious text.

The more I get to know your views on this particular topic, the more convinced I am that not trusting anonymous "experts" on the internet is the sensible way to go. 

[ekim]

There are no risks. My only point was that I would not be convinced by the argument of someone on an anonymous forum who says "I must be more correct than you or trust me I know what I am talking about because I am a ..."[fill in the blank]

?  Professor of theriogenology and biotechnology  .......... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hwang_Woo-suk

[Gonnagle]

?  Professor of theriogenology and biotechnology  .......... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hwang_Woo-suk

Dear Ekim,

Well that could have been awkward, I thought you were giving us a link to the good Prof's credentials thankfully not, anyway I prefer my own image, a wizened old man walking about in tattered old slippers, leather elbow protectors on his overlarge cardigan and shouting at all the young students to go and get a haircut

Gonnagle.

[The Accountant, OBE, KC]

?  Professor of theriogenology and biotechnology  .......... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hwang_Woo-suk

Whoops! Should we make contact and ask him to join our little forum? I wonder if he's a theist or an atheist 

[ProfessorDavey]

Dear Ekim,

Well that could have been awkward, I thought you were giving us a link to the good Prof's credentials thankfully not, anyway I prefer my own image, a wizened old man walking about in tattered old slippers, leather elbow protectors on his overlarge cardigan and shouting at all the young students to go and get a haircut

Gonnagle.

Aha - the hoary old stereotype of the mad professor eh - never grows old.

But sorry to disappoint, but a long way off the mark. Usually in a sharp suit and crisp white shirt and in my most recent engagement with our students (just last Thursday) I was giving the opening address at an alumni event where I was extolling our students to continue to be brilliant and to make a real difference in their respective communities all around the world. Not sure I made any comment on haircuts though!

But in a few weeks it will be graduation time - when I get to wear a silly robe and silly hat (see below) as I congratulate all our graduating students - will need to remember not to make any haircut comments.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16354396.lenny-henry-completes-four-year-phd-in-screenplay-writing/

By the way the chap in the photo isn't me , and nor is this my university ... but the silly gown and hat are the same as the tradition is that you wear the robes of your highest academic qualification.

That said I have a colleague who basically picks robes at random to see just how bonkers they are. Some of the European university ones are humdingers.

[ProfessorDavey]

If they were giving me medical or any other advice anonymously or on an internet forum ...

Who on earth is doing that - from what I can see no-one is giving out advice on this MB.

Nope we are discussing topics and giving our views on a  range of subjects, which tend to be based on our knowledge, expertise and experience. And the opinion of someone with greater knowledge/expertise/experience on a particular matter should be given greater weight than someone else without that level of knowledge/expertise/experience.

But hey-ho - in the VG world random armchair 'expert' google guy carries the same weight as someone who may have extensive training in a topic, deep knowledge of that matter and a wealth of experience. You really should have come clean and 'outed' yourself as Michael 'we've had enough of experts' Gove. 

[Gordon]

Have to say I'm slightly surprised at the point-scoring going on of late: most of us have 'known' each other for over a decade or longer, and in some cases have a personal relationship outwith this wee forum.

Now we may disagree on ideas, beliefs or arguments - and maybe it gets heated at times - but I've seen no reason whatsoever to doubt the integrity or honesty of any of any the regulars here, and I also realise that people are more than their posts. The extent to which regulars here 'open up' about aspects their personal circumstances - or not - is their choice, and I respect that.

I would genuinely miss the contact and camaraderie if this place did not exist, or it disappeared: in a way we've been all been a part of each other's lives no matter how superficial, or not, so let's hope we can continue for a while longer.

[The Accountant, OBE, KC]

Who on earth is doing that - from what I can see no-one is giving out advice on this MB.

Nice bit of quote-mining - where did I suggest that anyone was giving out advice on this MB? More evidence of your lack of integrity and honesty. 

You asked me in reply #438 if I would see three doctors before accepting medical advice and then said you didn't know why I would bother seeing them because I don't give sufficient weight to the opinion of a trained and experienced expert discussing matters in their area of expertise.

And I replied to your comment that I wouldn't give weight to their opinion if they were giving me medical or any other advice anonymously, or on an internet forum.

No idea why you have just quoted that response and asked who was giving out advice on this MB - but it doesn't matter. As I said the more I read your disingenuous responses, the more I think I was correct to not trust you. 

Nope we are discussing topics and giving our views on a  range of subjects, which tend to be based on our knowledge, expertise and experience. And the opinion of someone with greater knowledge/expertise/experience on a particular matter should be given greater weight than someone else without that level of knowledge/expertise/experience.

Disagree - I certainly would not take the word of someone on an anonymous internet forum that they have greater knowledge/ expertise/ experience.

And if they did have greater knowledge/ expertise/ experience I would expect them to at the very least be able to use this knowledge/ expertise/ experience to make a credible and convincing argument on here rather than bleat on about their supposed "expert" credentials in order to try to add weight to their argument.

Your argument doesn't carry greater weight with me because of who you claim to be. It's either a good argument or it isn't.

[The Accountant, OBE, KC]

Have to say I'm slightly surprised at the point-scoring going on of late: most of us have 'known' each other for over a decade or longer, and in some cases have a personal relationship outwith this wee forum.

Now we may disagree on ideas, beliefs or arguments - and maybe it gets heated at times - but I've seen no reason whatsoever to doubt the integrity or honesty of any of any the regulars here, and I also realise that people are more than their posts. The extent to which regulars here 'open up' about aspects their personal circumstances - or not - is their choice, and I respect that.

I would genuinely miss the contact and camaraderie if this place did not exist, or it disappeared: in a way we've been all been a part of each other's lives no matter how superficial, or not, so let's hope we can continue for a while longer.

Interesting perspective.

I, on the other hand, have lost count of the number of times posters have accused regulars on here of lying, being disingenuous, lacking honesty and integrity etc. It's become part of my vocabulary - I picked it up from here over the years.

[ProfessorDavey]

Have to say I'm slightly surprised at the point-scoring going on of late: most of us have 'known' each other for over a decade or longer, and in some cases have a personal relationship outwith this wee forum.

Now we may disagree on ideas, beliefs or arguments - and maybe it gets heated at times - but I've seen no reason whatsoever to doubt the integrity or honesty of any of any the regulars here, and I also realise that people are more than their posts. The extent to which regulars here 'open up' about aspects their personal circumstances - or not - is their choice, and I respect that.

I would genuinely miss the contact and camaraderie if this place did not exist, or it disappeared: in a way we've been all been a part of each other's lives no matter how superficial, or not, so let's hope we can continue for a while longer.

Absolutely - there is plenty of 'rough and tumble' on these MB and we are most definitely not akin to strangers meeting in a pub - we are very much not strangers.

But I think a line is crossed when the most fundamental aspect of each poster - who we actually are (which is based on what we choose to reveal and what we choose not to reveal) is questioned. That goes way beyond the day-to-day knockabout and cuts to the heart of the key element that makes a MB like this tick, namely trust and respect. If we reveal things about ourselves which are important to who we are and have that disbelieved and ridiculed by another poster, then why would we reveal anything.

But as I said before I have always accepted what other posters reveal about themselves to be true and it seems to me that virtually every other poster here seems to do so too ... sadly bar one.

[Gonnagle]

Aha - the hoary old stereotype of the mad professor eh - never grows old.

But sorry to disappoint, but a long way off the mark. Usually in a sharp suit and crisp white shirt and in my most recent engagement with our students (just last Thursday) I was giving the opening address at an alumni event where I was extolling our students to continue to be brilliant and to make a real difference in their respective communities all around the world. Not sure I made any comment on haircuts though!

But in a few weeks it will be graduation time - when I get to wear a silly robe and silly hat (see below) as I congratulate all our graduating students - will need to remember not to make any haircut comments.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16354396.lenny-henry-completes-four-year-phd-in-screenplay-writing/

By the way the chap in the photo isn't me , and nor is this my university ... but the silly gown and hat are the same as the tradition is that you wear the robes of your highest academic qualification.

That said I have a colleague who basically picks robes at random to see just how bonkers they are. Some of the European university ones are humdingers.

Dear Prof,

Sorry but my version is cooler, way cooler, unless!! The Nutty Professor version ( Jerry Lewis ) and of course you get the girl, Stella Stevens with a side order of .

Dear Gordon,

Have to say I'm slightly surprised at the point-scoring going on of late: most of us have 'known' each other for over a decade or longer, and in some cases have a personal relationship outwith this wee forum.

Now we may disagree on ideas, beliefs or arguments - and maybe it gets heated at times - but I've seen no reason whatsoever to doubt the integrity or honesty of any of any the regulars here, and I also realise that people are more than their posts. The extent to which regulars here 'open up' about aspects their personal circumstances - or not - is their choice, and I respect that.

I would genuinely miss the contact and camaraderie if this place did not exist, or it disappeared: in a way we've been all been a part of each other's lives no matter how superficial, or not, so let's hope we can continue for a while longer.


It's all point scoring ( see my very first post ) no body likes to be wrong, but the really great thing about the forum is the learning curve, take me and the Stranger, we have our wee ding dong ( he's ding I am dong ) but now every time Quantum is mentioned I am off on a wee voyage, take today as a example, we all think we are right and so we rise on the stupid curve until we reach the zenith of stupidity and then we plunge into despair but then we slowly rise again as we learn ( something to do with a quantum curve, still learning )

And yes we do have very heated debates on here but sometimes they border on plain meanness, and it becomes infectious, tit for tat

My final words on the subject, no offence Professor but I would rather listen to someone who walks the walk than someone who has multiple degrees, just a wee lesson I have learned on my 66th years on this planet.

Gonnagle.