Before I start, please note that I am not naming anyone and will not be drawn into doing so.
On a recent post by someone else here, a comment was made that I thought was problematic, and I flagged it. It led (as far as I can see from my emails) to a hurtful discussion that has now been deleted, and one person said they felt unwelcome and would not return to this forum as a result. I'm very sad about that outcome; it needn't have escalated.
I know that we can be blunt (I have often been accused of speaking before thinking), and maybe as an older person some wisdom has accrued over the years. So, can I ask that people think a little about what they say; words can mean more than one thing and can hurt more than we intend. Looking at the discussion, I can see that much was said not intending to harm, but I can also see how easy misinterpretation was involved.
Hopefully, the person who has decided to leave can still be reached and will return; it will be a shame if not.
