Thank you , Harry, you have made several very good points there.
As an organisation, we exist to help other enthusiasts enjoy the world of antique motorcycles, by exchanging information . Hopefully correct information. If I offered incorrect information, i would hope that the wealth of knowledge among the membership would help me correct my mistake, and I would learn from it.
I would consider it quite impolite for someone to belittle me or expose my many faults in public and it will not happen on this forum or in this club.
Social media such as facebook has its place, but it is easy for uncorroberated information to be disseminated as fact, and for people to set themselves up as experts in a field with the benefit of a few pictures and wisecrack comments. It is also easy to make the mistake of commenting angrily or foolishly, and having your words pinged around the world before you have a chance to regret them and withdraw them. I hope the people in question on the particular case you mentioned can bring themselves to apologise for making crass statements publicly, if not, I guess the world will see them and their comments from a different perspective in future.
A friend tells me that the facebook page is a great vehicle to sell parts to make money, perhaps this forum could become a great place to exchange and sell parts to help ourselves and others keep our motorcycles on the road at a reasonable cost ?