can we all conclude that discussion of the middle east is not good for the health of MUMSNET

[SeymourButz]

think Gina ford and rockets

and now THIS!

No wonder THEY cant sort anything out if this is what it does to a run of the mill parenting website

you may have something there seymour, and I speak as one of the die hard Middle East posters. Your OP will probably get deleted though!!!!

Oh really?
Lordy lord.
Lets talk about that glamorous wife of that Middle Eastern king thing guy/

SB - sadly I think you maybe right!!

It's not good for the health of anyonhe. Thats what I've been trying to say for weeks now.

Gina Who?

I see what you're saying but can I, just very quietly, say that I found those threads really informative? And I was really grateful to those who took part with a good heart?

They were very informative. They have already died of a natural death because the dead are now being buried behind closed doors ( or closed checkpoints/wall) and nobody gives a toss anymore

Maybe we should shelve the whole news topic and our brains with it

Slim - agreed. How quickly people forget.

Any form of discussion on MN is bad for your health -
but we come back for more, don't we

agree with slim - we should not forget or ignore.

I just meant taking sides just leads to more conflict - here, there and everywhere.

I don;t do it often, but Gaza is the one area where I think sitting on the fence is essential as both sides of it are strewn with landmines.

Yes right, God forbid we should bear witness. Just sit and watch the world go by.

I for one thing, would be ashamed to sit on that particular "fence".

I didn't post on thosethreads I feel very ill informed, but I was learning more by reading them, so I hope you dont all stop posting on contentious subjects.

However, since MM I hav never known a subject more guaranteed to end in a bunfight on here.

what's happened now? on mn, i mean. the bbc keeps me up to date on obama gaza.

Well that's you perogative Slim. But it's what impartial apartisan observers do, in order to broker peace. They have to be impartial, otherwise, it's just adding fuel to the fire.

We're all ill informed Jack. But we all still have an 'opinion'. Like it helps

Those threads were Mn at it's best.

People with very different views learning from each other and possibly modifying their stance, or at least understanding the other side more. (I for one now check into haaretz every day, which I never did before. Small but signifcant)

It wasn't the middle east topic that sent that thread into the shit.

But I get your light hearted point. Sorry for my earnest response.

Thank you Nantucket for pointing out the obvious like "People with very different views" + "learning from each other" + "possibly modifying their stance, or at least understanding the other side more"

Am really really glad that you do check different sources of information too. At least all was not lost.

That's why it was MN at its best Monkeytrousers. That's what makes us better people.

I'm sure we would all like to be philosopher-kings: non partisan, omniscient peace brokers that can sit above the debate. I think your approach is naive and would not generate a debate at all.

Slim, you talk like that is my stance on everything. As you well know it isn't. I just know my 'opinion' on Gaza is irrelevant and discussing it with other just as ill informed people who think they have the gift of insight is western narcessism at its worst.

You obviously don't feel there is an injustice in Gaza then MT?

Or do you feel the public should generally keep quiet about injustices they see, and oppression of people, particuarly when we have some indirect responsibility for it?

Again I ask you, would you/did you sit on the fence about apartheid?

To me that would be an equaivalent.

I can only understnd your refusal enter a discussion if you believe there is not an injustice and it's just a polictical debate. then I guess I can kind of see your position.

The don't discuss it becuse you are ill informed is total crap thugh. Actually there are a number of poele on hre who are well informed. Not totally informed, not totally impartial, because that person doesn't exist. But it is even worth the ill informed joining the debate beacuse...er...they become beter informed.

there is no central truth here, there is only opinion, and sharing of opinion is good. Essential. Particuarly if your opinin is that huge injustices have been done and need addressing. Again, I ask you to apply your stance to aparthied in SA.

Would you have told MN in the 80's not to bother discussing this, as it's so compliacted and our opinions would be irrelevant?

And actually your opinion on most things is irrelevant by your measuring. What opinions do you have that are more relevant than mine or your opinions on Gaza? Really I would like to know.

Also Mt it's a bit weird you frequently appearing on middle east threads to tell us all you are not entering the deabte.

Er...just don't post then? Hide the thread.

Or do you want to see all debate on this issue cease on Mn because you beleive it to be irrelevant and are tyring to persuade us all of that?

It's a serious question, I don't get it. Why are you on the threads? all of them?

I was also not very well informed before reading the threads on MN about Gaza. It was good to read both sides of the story and most of the postings were thoughtfully written and well put.

It was not the Gaza topic that caused the problems but the troll-hunting and the resulting chaos. But that can happen on any thread, it is just a part of internet foren.

I would be sorry if the posters on the Gaza threads were not to post anymore, it was and is an interesting and informative debate.

saw something last night that is now etched onto my brain forever, re gaza. [late night channel 4] There are no words really.