Oh for crying out loud, when I first read your post my first thought was to apologise. But why? I am fully aware what you are referring to (I think the French incident). My post (said in jest, I have an very awful sense of humour - it comes of working for years in the emergency services) was posted prior to me seeing the news with regard to a decapitation. That said it bares no reference to the French crime and was never meant to. If you perceive it that way its down to the joys of political correctness and all its faults.
For your information, I as a person am totally against the death sentence for any crime and would argue against it with any one - as I say my comment re Madame Gulliotine was a joke!!!
May be I should cancel my reservation for the smoking weekend if everyone is so easily offended or may be you all think I'm not one to fit in.
I'm easy guys and never one to deliberately offend. So just let me know, I've only paid a deposit, I can well afford to lose it.
I suppose It comes back to me for a response and cover your points:
If a group of us were all stood around at the BBQ weekend having a chat, a bit of banter and taking the piss, as you do, and you made the same comment, that comment is over in a split second, finished, gone. Depending on who was stood around would determine the reaction of the group. I would have verbally responded and we most likely would have agreed to disagree, or whatever you call it and that would be the end of it. Move on, next Conversation.
As this is a forum, whatever is written is there for every member, not just the UK forum members but also every member from Smoking Meat Forums to potentially read that post. Therefore you don't know who is reading your comments & how it could effect them. Unfortunately you might be writing it in jest, but I do not know that, as I do not know you as a person, I have never met you, and I cannot judge your body language, I hope you see where I am coming from?
This is a forum so there is going to be a difference of opinion, so if you are going to write something controversial you should be prepared to be criticised.
I don't know if you will fit in, I don't know if I will fit in, but we will never know if we don't turn up. If you feel you have to cancel the weekend because I have passed comment that is your choice, But I would rather you didn't, as it is going to be a good laugh.
Just to set the record straight I am not a fully signed up member of the PC brigade and I don't see things through rose tinted glasses. I served 14 years in the Army and have worked for 20 years in the NHS before my calling to sell a better quality of Smoking Wood.
As far as I am concerned it is water under the bridge, and I hope to see you at the Smoking Weekend.
James
p.s On a lighter note, there is no point in crying out loud...... I won't be able to hear you and it will only annoy your neighbours!
