La Dolcevita's activity

Just realised having merrily added spade/fork (which will now get from Lidl) and a zapper to my shopping list - but no blinkin land to use them on.................it will be a bit OTT for a terrace!!! 

It's a great example of how one person says something and the other interprets in another way  - so I'm not sure what I put/how I put it that caused you to interpet that I thought you were the one to start antagonism - it wasn't what I intended to say (and I spent a while writing it!!!)........I was just curious as to whether you were the same on here as you were in "real" life and as you say if attacked you go for the throat and take no prisoners - here and in reality.  Maybe things are said on this forum that are interpreted in different ways and that causes the 'reactions'  Me - rather than go for the throat I try to understand where others are coming from - not easy on somewhere like this I don't mind people putting stuff about Italy that doens't reflect it as a bed of roses - far from it -  as it's not perfect nor is any country.   I find it uncomfortable when it all becomes personal and spatty as I would do in real life - and as in real life I have lots of "debates' with friends but it would NEVER become a slanging match as that for me is where the respect goes.  Sometimes I may want to give someone a good slap but just do it in my head!!!!!! But this forum has as its strap line "for lovers of all things italian" and Judecas is no lover of all things italian - I can only speak from my past experience of him - I have no idea how he left but I'm glad that he did. The problem is when it gets too heated whatever the discussion point was gets lots and then it's just about the "fight" which to me is pointless.  It's not to say anyone is right or wrong - we are all drawn to different forums for different reasons - some like the antagonism others don't. Oops - just seen the time - late for a conference call!!!

Il Gattopardo ordered with english subtitles along with pinnochio audio listening CD in italian!! Also ordered Azione Grammatica which my tutor suggested I get - think I'll start with Pinocchio!

Costly business joining this forum - so on my list to bring is now added a garden fork and spade (ours are knackered) and then when we arrive a zapper thing!  I'm just about to order some kids books and dvds to help with learning my italian and some adult movies (not those sorts).  Pales into insignificance though having just received an estimate over double what we were expecting for our renoovation!!!!

I think there's something in the title - "the community for lovers of all things Italian" - and that's where my problem with Judecas was - he does the exact oppostie.  Having seen him dismantle another forum through the doom and gloom which he was just beginning to build up to here for me that's not in the spirit of this forum and "the community for lovers of all things italian" in his case he seemed to be "a hater of all things italian."  He would write pages and pages of posts all on the same theme which eventually stopped people from posting and became a worthless experience for everyone - and now there's no-one left!  Maybe he removed himself - interestingly I've just checked and there's been no activity from him on the other forum either.  I think having a balanced view is really important - it's where there is a disagreement and it becomes personal and a playground spat that I think it goes a step too far.  It's not about being "right or wrong" just different perspectives - and maybe with what happended on the previous forum here has left a bad taste in peoples mouths in both "groups".  Well not maybe it obviously has!!   I'm wondering the way people write here - is it the way you speak/behave too?  I'll start by asking that one of you Esme as you've said like me you call a spade a spade  - from my perspective of you sometimes you're like a rottweiler - you go for the throat and take no prisoners - is that what you do in real life?  I'm curious........As my interpretation of calling a spade a spade is that I'm honest but don't like to offend (so I've just read and reread what I've written about comparing you to a rottweiler and hoping you take it in the spirit it's meant!!!!

Ok - I'll give it a whirl - am doing an Amazon order tonight so will put it on my list and let you know how I get on :)

Funnily enough I recorded Inspector Montalbano last night - we started to watch it at about 11pm - not a good idea when tired so will save it for an earlier evening watch.  Great idea re childrens DVD's as well.  Think I might be challenged with literary masterpieces Gala - I did english literature at A level and hated it with a passion, I also did french A level and was asked to compare the Joan of Arc play we were doing in english with the french book L'alouette on the same topic - it scarred me for life - couldn't have done it in english never mind french!!!! Johnny - which past tense would you suggest - this is where I wish it was easier - and I'm sure if I was an italian looking to learn english I would be saying the same!!

An italian zapper - LOL!!!  When I'm next over I'm going to ask my italian friends where I can find a a Zapper italiano!!! 

I think that's a really good question - and I don't know the answer! I think that the written word is open to many interpretations - and that it is easy to make an assumption that you know what someone is saying without checking out in reality what they meant. I think that there are also some people who like a really good fight - maybe because they can hide behind the internet and would never "dare" say some of the things they do in writing to peoples faces. And then there are those people who like a good fight - regardless - and look to antagonise just for the sake of it. Then there are people whose glass is half empty/and in some cases not got a drop in - who just like to keep posting their own thing regardless of others views - maybe as you say because they have had a hard time in life/italy - I personally don't have a problem with people sharing their challenges/difficulties - it's when it's just doom and gloom that I get twitchy - as that's not as I understand the purpose of this forum - I can't remember the strap line but it's somethign about people "liking" Italy! I wasn't a member of the forum when things went pear shaped last time - but it sounded pretty horrendous from the snippets people have posted in the last few months.  I find it difficult to understand why people would post under various different "names" but I've never been one for game playing - to me a spade is a spade...............

Living like one and thinking like one - that's why you'll find me in the bar!!!!!  Which are the 3 tenses you're talking about Johnny? - I'm assuming the present and future (but may be wrong) and the other is????  And if I'm wrong about the first 2 please fill in the gap - thanks!  I think that's why my tutor is going back to basics so even though I'd done italian for a while it's been in sporadic bursts - so I did my GCSE over 2 years taking the exam in 2007 and got an A* which means diddly squat - I just learnt some stuff parrot fashion and made it fit for the exams!!!  we had a native speaking italian teacher who was "lovely" but not a teacher so had real trouble answering the million and one questions I/we all had.  So I never understood much but got by. A couple of years later I then went on to the next level and did a year but it was with a group of really boring people (with a few exceptions) who came to just learn italian - they were miles ahead of me all retired and could put hours/days into homework so the class progressed at their pace not mine - learning for me needs to be fun.  So I've just done "bits" in the last couple of years hence the need to step change.  So back to basics it is for me - I think as Gala said you need to understand the language and I never have - so basics it is and I'm sure once I've got those I'll feel far more confident in what I'm saying.  I'm totally confident talking to people but know what is coming out of my mouth is rubbish!!!!!!