And gobbler, I've never thought of myself as your 'mon' You have long been a father figure to me

From these posts, I've gone off and explored more about SOLE and searching up information on the web. Why has something that is a good thing become a battle over who said what about who?

I'm with the Gobbler, can't everyone just make up?

For the first time ever on Syrup&Tang, comments will be moderated from now on. I've been relaxed in permitting open commenting, but there's a point when rehashing the same aggressive stuff serves no further purpose.

[This comment has been edited 27/07/08, 20:28. The person known as Grocer objected to me mentioning her real first name, even though I was under the misapprehension that her name was publicly known. It has been removed from this comment. Apologies.]

I can see your point in terms of using your views and how you may object to the context. But I really didn't read that he was painting you a zealot. I followed the link and read your post and you did say that even you weren't sure about the applicability of SOLE to everyone and that it is confusing and the choice itself is half chance.

I was only using your sentence as an example. I know that you mean we should all question our choices but I was just trying to show how the language can be misinterpreted.

It feels like (and this is my own feeling so I'm not saying how others feall) that people who are into SOLE see those who are not as being against it. So hence I keep saying that I'm not against it. Just because I don't apply it, doesn't mean I'm against it.

I don't feel bad about going to the supermarket at all. But it seems (again, my own feeling) that people are pushing the message that large supermarkets are bad and therefore those who use them are supporting bad things. Maybe the media has a part to blame, with celebrity chefs all saying we need to eat local and how much harm we're all doing when we don't. Do you see why I think I have to defend my stance for not eating SOLE?

About the not cooking part, it feels like a judgement to me. Here are all these people who can cook really well saying its so easy to cook. Yet that's not what I think. I'd rather have people say that they understand that not everyone finds cooking easy but it can be learnt.

Well I've found all of these posts, even with the disagreements, highly informative. It's helped me to see what others feel and why they think what they think. Hopefully no one has taken personal offence to anything I've said. It's all about the topic and the different points of view on it.

Thanh

Using me for a starting point of his discussion (as you put it) is wrong when I do not agree with it (the point he makes) or the way it has been done.

I have not nor presume to infer a summary of what duncan thinks of my posts, my thoughts nor of me – he says little about the posts yet the context in which he places them is either (a) intended to provoke or (b) poorly executed.

Perhaps if Duncan had omitted the emotive language, the finger pointing and references to punitive rhetoric there would be scope for discussion.

What you INFER from my comments is entirely up to you – that's the difference between and inference and an implication. As a scientist you will know the difference of approaching an experiment with either a projected (or even intended) outcome or not.

It is of course, healthy to discuss these issues, however I don't think Duncan has encouraged any discussion, rather stifled it.

I don't know why you feel you have to iterate your non-objection to SOLE even though you aren't compelled to head down that path. I didn't even realise it was something you could be against!

You say "…Aren't I allowed to (due to finances, choice, time, convenience) shop in a multi-national supermarket and not feel bad about myself?" Why do you feel bad about yourself?

As for your example of something I have commented on elsewhere, that is not a judgement of others – it is a statement of fact, people believe they can't cook something, that they don't have the skill. I think this is because we spend so much time being told (via the media) how DIFFICULT it is.

A large part of my work involves turning this perception on its head not judging people, rather demonstrating how delicious simple meals can be prepared with basic ingredients by anyone that can read and count provided they are empowered to do so. Readers of my newsletter can attest to the effort that goes into this, but you lot are all based in Melbourne and haven't signed up.

I am not against discussion. I am all for encouragement and education; I like to learn from my peers. I dislike being quoted out of context and I long for rational debate. Extremism in any form is dangerous. Thus my objection.

If anyone wants to debate/discuss any issues feel free to visit my blog.

Regards,