SGK

Well, that depends on your point of view. An idiot is someone who is idiotic - or in reference to a discussion forum, posts idiotic things. So you don't have to 'do' anything to me for me to think you are an idiot, you merely have to say (post) idiotic things.
I quite agree that people shouldn't just go around insulting people - and 'idiot' is an insult - but actually I didn't insult you, I asked a question. To be more specific, I offered a possible answer to your own question.
I will certainly admit that by offering this answer I was inferring that you were, in fact, an idiot - but I was actually making an open suggestion and inviting you to reply with a better explanation.
You refer to yourself as a newbie, but I don't see the relevance. In fact, I consider that people who are 'newbies' and who suddenly start spouting off about going to war with the EU are, well, .... well, you get the idea.
It is not my wont to insult people - though I can't help myself with one or two morons who arrive here from time to time - but equally, please consider that each post you make is voluntary and invites people to judge you. If I have judged you thus, shouldn't you be more concerned as to why?

Yes, your chance to show that you are not an idiot and do not have wet dreams about firing bazookas at Fritz.

Doh. (My bolding.)

I've given you my opinion, which you have taken offence at. Perhaps I should have put it in the third person (though you asked in the first person):

Anyone who speaks of full scale war against the EU, considering that the UK is a part of the EU, that it has not yet tried to leave it, that there has been no sign of enforced military action by the EU on any of its member states, nor is there means to go about such an action, nor sign of the political will to go about such an action with the UK, is an idiot and is harming the anti-EU movement because of the image he is projecting of ignorance, political naiivity and a penchant for warmongering.
That is my opinion on the matter.

zbrahead

Employ passive resistance and bobs your uncle, we **** off the EU

SGK

Or, how about, we leave the EU?

Akria

In response to it all, though not in any particular order:

Strangely enough, many people would not consider that my post was idiotic.
You see, idiocy means a different thing to each individual.
For myself, I am not sure how I would define idiocy, but I certainly would not consider a post asking how people would respond in a hypothetical situation as idiotic.
Nor would I consider that stating one's own answer to it would be idiotic.
I would, in fact, respect the right of the author to their opinion and merely let them get on with their life.
You accuse me of projecting an image of political naivete. I beg to differ. I consider myself extremely well-versed in politics, and in any case I fail to see how my posting of the lengths which I am willing to go to against the EU could be construed as political naivete. Political naivete would more likely be something such as suggesting a world government, suggesting that one's nation should attempt to get something from another without a reasonable concession in return or suggesting that, indeed, a war SHOULD be started against another government or organisation.
I have not suggested that a war should be started. I will repeat myself here: I have merely stated the lengths to which I would be willing to go to prevent full integration into the European Union.
Ignorance: I would use my above answer as a retort to this claim.
A penchant for war-mongering? I will deny this only to the point before which I would be lying. I do not desire a war, but I would be quite willing to start one if I believed that the situation called for it. I do not call for war.
Wet dreams about firing bazookas at Fritz? I'll admit that I quite liked this: it was fairly funny. However, I might point out that I do not really dislike any European nation in particular, apart from maybe France, and even then in a joky manner. Germany is in fact my second favourite European nation (Britain being first, of course).
I am concerned as to why you judged me in the manner that you did: I am merely more concerned at present with the manner in which you judged me. You did, as you've admitted, inferred that I am an idiot: I would have reacted much more calmly had you, rather than inferring that I am an idiot, have told me why exactly you disagree with me and how exactly you feel my opinion is wrong.
Your original post really was not done in such a manner: it was insulting and demeaning, and as such I responded to it in the manner that I did.


Lastly, I would like to apologise for the manner in which I did react. Sadly, as I have said, I viewed your original post as being very demeaning to myself and any who agree with myself. I reacted a bit too strongly, and for that I would like to say sorry.
I would appreciate it if you might try to understand my viewpoint, however.

SGK

Of course it does, but you seem intent on proving to me that I was wrong to consider you an idiot, which means you don't really mean that; you don't really believe I have the right to determine idiocy for myself.
I explained why I consider the opinion idiotic in my last paragraph of my post. The anti-EU movement is held back by a bad image. If that image could be shaken off, it would in my opinion open the door for a large swathe of the public to support it and help politicians to start voicing things that are currently taboo.
Two prominent aspects are racism and the 'little Englander' tag. Mostly this is undeserved and a consequence of mud slinging, where enough has been slung and some has stuck. For example, UKIP is often denounced as racist just because it calls for immigration controls. It's nonsense, but it's worked to a degree. The challenge for UKIP is to defeat that slur through a convincing counter-argument.
Everytime a UKIP member says something racist, however, or even something unwise that can be siezed upon and twisted, it makes that challenge harder.
Same with the 'little Englander' charge and the more those against the EU go on about the glories of the British Empire and taking up arms against the EU, the more that charge seems to be valid.
As someone who wants to further the cause of the anti-EU movement, in whatever way possible, I get angry at those who are supposed to be 'on side', but who set the whole thing back.
It's not just a 'hypothetical situation' which everyone can respect, it's an image that you are projecting which will be seen, by association, as part of the anti-EU nutters' (as some see us) image.
How should those of us who are anti-EU, but who want to detach ourselves from these images, distance ourselves from those who would reinforce this bad image?
So you see, it isn't about respecting an opinion. The posting of an opinion on here invites criticism, that's the point of the forum. You further invited comment on yourself. I mean, it's not a one off, is it? To make sure I wasn't being unfair to you, I had a quick look at your posts to date. I quickly tallied nine threads you've posted on and on six you've spoken about war, empire and armed conflict. You've started two yourself!
You claim not to be naiive, but have jumped in with two feet into a forum you don't appear to have checked out carefully before posting. I think I'm right in saying that most posters would welcome the input of young people who can bring fresh debate and a young person's perspective to the mix, but so far its been mostly childish mates' banter and some embarrassing comments.
I really hope you all stick around, but I really hope you all move it up a gear. I don't mean to sound like a condescending old git, but it's difficult not to when that's what I am. I try and hide it, obviously, but you invited my input.

I hope you can see that my choice of phrase throughout was an attempt to keep it light-hearted and not be over offensive. Neverthless the charge stands, or perhaps that should be a challenge: Leave the war-stuff alone, you've made yourself quite clear on that now, give us some posts that show there's more to you than Empire and Bullets.

No need, your response was not at all inappropriate, in fact I expected a retort along the lines of '**** off you old fart'.