I've kept out of this until now but I do have a bit to say about it, for what it's worth. I could have chimed in at the time and taken sides but I'm not sure whether it would have made a difference. Purely by coincidence I wrote in a similar manner to NB1 a few days earlier on another forum I contribute to (Cancer Survivors Network). There, long story short, an elderly gentleman was considering an unneccessary prostatectomy just so that he could take testosterone replacement therapy. It seemed like he was just wanting to drink out of the fountain of youth again, which is what I replied with in a brusque manner, suggesting that he wanted to be 22 again instead of 72, but I also apologized in advance if I had assumed wrong.
He replied back by clarifying why his existing very low testosterone level was an issue for him besides the obvious ones, thanked me for my input and wished me well. So I did assume wrong in the first place but he understood completely why I had jumped to that conclusion. He did not take it as bullying. I then thanked him for clearing things up, and we're good.
My point is, communication runs in both directions. It's all well and good to know how to convey your feelings to someone else, but what is often lacking is knowing how to receive their feelings in return.
I stopped reading the argument in the Estrogen Effects etc. thread when I saw the about face on whether seniority on the forum was relevant or not. First it was, then it wasn't, oh FFS.
Charli, thank you for what you wrote above. Considering your signature, it was overdue.
Time heals everything. I am glad that any hard feelings between the warring parties here seem to have dissipated but I don't like the collateral damage that has occurred. I would also like to see the return of NB1 to the forum.