Whether we have respect for one another or not, the standards that IOSH set for this forum require us to be polite. I return to a phrase from the original posting: "Therefore, we request that you always seek to express your concerns politely; preferably offering advice and guidance rather than simply judging others." I have no problem with this ideal.

It is a shame that technical competence is not a requirement for some of the advice though. It would save a lot of problems regarding 'being polite and respectful'.

More important, as long as the handsome devil I see in the mirror every morning' Garry, you're not talking about John McCririck are you ;) Get well soon John!

Sorry, been away, did I miss anyhting? Ian, what type of classical education? A classical humanist education in the enlightenment sense certainly would include the idea of respect for a person. Your invective against those who in your eyes 'demand' respect may or may not be justified, but it's not the kind of respect I or pete48 is talking about. Damelcfc, never said anything about share of GDP. The point about healthcare (not hosiptals) vs manufacturing is about where people might work, and how this might colour their attitudes to what some call plain speaking. In the environment I work in its important not to give offence, people wont just brush it off, and no Clarel, its not because they're thin skinned, its more complicated than that. So people in my position have to think carefully before we speak, in a way I didn't have to when I worked in industry. And I think that difference does explain some of the more absurd contretemps we get into on this forum; its what linguists would call different registers, John