Originally Posted by chasm54

I like to argue. That doesn't mean I am determined to be disagreeable, it means that I enjoy the process of having my opinions challenged, and challenging those of others. I was brought up to believe that if you express an opinion you should be prepared to back it up with evidence or, at least, a rational explantion of why it isn't mere prejudice.

In general this tends to cause more grief on internet forums than it does in real life. In part that is a cultural thing - in northern Britain being in-your-face is pretty much normal - and in part it is that tone and nuance is more difficult to express via digital media. I could modify my writing to counteract this, for example by wrapping up my questions or observations in "polite" circumlocutions, but frankly I can't be arsed.