Damn right, trevor - I'm a hard old man - remember I got some very nasty bullying when I joined a few days ago, and asked some perfectly reasonable questions about established etiquette.
After being on for a few days, it does seem to me as if this forum is inhabited by people who want a cushy ride to solution of the grid.
I was attacked for suggesting that I would only hint at the answers instead of just giving the whole thing to the lame dogs on a plate. (and I use 'lame dogs' in a cryptic sense - no insults intended. Where's the achievement in that- for helper or helpee?
Rosalind said " it's out of the kindness of your heart " - or similar - I just happen to think that when applied to a hard intellectual puzzle, that's flabby.
and that certainly isn't why I do it; as I've said before,I want a challenging conundrum to sharpen my OWN teeth on.
I'm actually quite a charmer when circumstances justify charm - when bullies engage in an extended dumbing down of a medium that I value, I snarl back.
I think I'm probably out of here - OK - I'll save you the bother of saying 'Good Riddance'
But I would like to hear a considered apologia for the activity on this forum.
Discuss, please.