Good question Nails, I have had to have a think about this before posting. I can honestly therefor say that, my basic social and political beliefs have not been changed. I am from Middleport and raised on Bradder after all, worked down the coalmine at 16 and had most of my core values fixed in a pretty competitive environment. I was educated, from the age of 11 at a Grammar school before being forced to leave and get a job due to family economic pressure. One thing that AB has given me though, through the relatively anonymous, nature of the site, is an opportunity to appreciate the very different people that we all are. I often read a thread, without posting on it, when it is a subject or problem that I have no experience or knowledge of. I also greatly value the tech advice that is available without any consideration given to political or personal preferences. I used to think I was uniquely 'strange' before I participated on here. I now know better.