**The Canteen - Please read before you post in here!**

[POSTMAN]

I’ve always valued free speech and the exchange of different opinions. That said, I’m not a supporter of name-calling or unnecessary hostility. Everyone here is an adult, entitled to their own views, and with that comes the responsibility to disagree respectfully.

If you feel a discussion is going nowhere or is too frustrating, the best course of action is simply to step away—just as you likely would in real life. What will not happen here is people taking their frustrations out on others in an aggressive or personal way.

Let’s be honest: if we were all sitting around a table having these conversations, it wouldn’t descend into the level of toxicity that sometimes appears here. Reporting every minor disagreement isn’t helpful either; reports should be reserved for genuinely serious issues. And to be clear—whatever happens in heated threads must not spill over onto the main boards.

This reminds me of the early days of the site, when we were going through strikes. I even went on ITV to promote our cause. Back then, some people supported us, while others were quick to tear us down. The press coverage wasn’t always kind, and there were moments when the pressure was so intense I nearly shut the forum down altogether.

But with the help of Teebs and many others, we carried on—and we’re still here today. I don’t want to go through that kind of stress again, and I know others don’t either. All it takes is one heated thread being highlighted in the press, and the damage could be done.

For that reason, from now on I’ll be removing certain threads where discussions are clearly spiralling into hostility. This site exists first and foremost for posties, and the canteen section is meant to be a space for light-hearted chat and general conversation.

So to be clear: if a thread looks like it’s going to blow up and cause more harm than good, it will be deleted. It’s simply not worth risking the future of us here.