Quote Originally Posted by Henry Porter View Post
I can't say that the comments 'upset' me however they did concern me enough to add my voice to the couple of members who had been ridiculed for challenging the supposedly funny anti gay comments. My concern is about how we may inadvertently through our 'banter' exclude people. Imagine you were a young (gay) man and had been posting here regularly. You had made virtual friends with others here and then the 'banter' started- how do you imagine you would feel as you arrived for the Borrowdale race? Would you feel welcome? Might you stay for the do? I doubt it. From the other point of view- you are a forum regular; had been having a laugh and everyone had enjoyed the banter. You were looking forward to the race and the do. Perhaps you might meet young 'Thingy' from the forum you'd got to know him quite well and were looking forward to buying him a pint. Afterwards you thought: "Funny 'Thingy' never turned up he seemed quite keen."
We should be proud that the forum is self regulating and I hope this helps keep it like that.
Well made point HP - but if you really analyse that then the likelihood is that the Borrowdale will be contested by only homosexual, cross dressing, immigrant Muslims with dandruff.

as the normal man (and woman) in the street will have been insulted and ridiculed so much that they are living in a cupboard at the Eddystone Lighthouse and frightened to come out.