I seek an honest answer from todays "hellene"

[Giorikas]

No, no, Giorikas, even in things completely unrelated to what I am interested in, there are still many contradictions.

Are you a vlach by descent, by the way? I have a vlach friend from Aegean Macedonia with a similar surname to your username.

No, I am no Vlach, and Giorikas is not a Vlach name, I am not used to calling Makedonia Aegean Macedonia, and in any case I have no relation to Northern Greece apart from the fact that I have many friends from Thessaloniki, and around. I visit regularly.

What are the contradictions ? I had never heard of the guy and did not read anything else then this book.

[Rogi]

No, no, Giorikas, even in things completely unrelated to what I am interested in, there are still many contradictions.

Are you a vlach by descent, by the way? I have a vlach friend from Aegean Macedonia with a similar surname to your username.

[Risto the Great]

I guess most don't bother anymore and just ignore this site.

The website statistics confirm that the Greeks LOVE this place Giorikas.
It is a pity so few of them feel they can respond.

[Giorikas]

Mazower's work is riddled with contradictions

That is probably because you are looking at it throught he eyes of someone who wants answers, or a position from him as outsider. From what I read, he is not taking any position on the topics that probably interest you.

[Rogi]

Mazower's work is riddled with contradictions

[Soldier of Macedon]

Yes, I know of Mazower, you should open a thread about his book so we can look at him, his contemporaries and circumstances collectively during that era, to get a balanced assessment.

[Giorikas]

λίγο αυτό, λίγο ότι.........

I understand the point you are trying to make but it is a fact that some people talk with more emotion than others, in Macedonian eyes the Greeks are the greatest enemy against our existence as Macedonians collectively, hence the language used and the "quotation" marks with the word Greek in it. However, not everybody does this and not everybody that does always does so consistently. I used to do this also once, but I decided that I will not lower myself to that standard and use such avenues when unprovoked. If provoked however, well.............

Avoid people who write as such and choose the people you conversate with, here is not as bad as you think...plus, I promise I wont put your name in quotation marks or alter it in anyway Giorikia


I'm good mate, living, I trust you've been well.

Yeah, doing fine thanks. Despite crises I'm travelling a lot lately. Turkey, Greece, now I'm planning a trip Athens - Thessaloniki (private stop for Easter in Drama) - Istanbul and back.

I am reading an interesting book about Thessaloniki by the way called 'Salonica, city of Ghosts' by Mark Mazower. Really interesting stuff. Gives a very good insight in the city from the Ottomans basically to now, and all that happened.

[Soldier of Macedon]

Χε, χε, τα ξέρεις όλα ε...........

λίγο αυτό, λίγο ότι.........

But I think meanwhile the rule here is to refer to Greeks as anything but Greeks. Best case scenario is that I read 'Greeks' implying that we are not. Sorry to say that I somehow hold that against you, since you as administrator are in a position to warn people if you want to.

I understand the point you are trying to make but it is a fact that some people talk with more emotion than others, in Macedonian eyes the Greeks are the greatest enemy against our existence as Macedonians collectively, hence the language used and the "quotation" marks with the word Greek in it. However, not everybody does this and not everybody that does always does so consistently. I used to do this also once, but I decided that I will not lower myself to that standard and use such avenues when unprovoked. If provoked however, well.............

Avoid people who write as such and choose the people you conversate with, here is not as bad as you think...plus, I promise I wont put your name in quotation marks or alter it in anyway Giorikia

.. Old fashioned long message, Giorikas style ;-)

How are you ?

I'm good mate, living, I trust you've been well.

[Daskalot]

Giorikas long time no see, I will do my very best to level the playing field.

[Giorikas]

Ah, my old friend Giorikas, όπου εξαφανίστηκαν βρε, lol, you know, I have noticed that you log on quite often but you don't seem to post брачко

You haven't been banned because you haven't denied the identity of the Macedonian people.

If you consider the basic human characteristics of dignity and respect as 'rules' in the practical sense, then it is a sad fact in yourself that you need to address all the more urgently, παλιό φίλο.

What's my end of the bargain mate?

Χε, χε, τα ξέρεις όλα ε; Εξαφανίστηκα indeed.

Going back to the original points I first made when I joined here; if I refer to you as Macedonians, will you refer to me as a Greek, and will you enforce that / make sure other follow that rule ? You agreed to that and I think you personally as one of the few still try to.
But I think meanwhile the rule here is to refer to Greeks as anything but Greeks. Best case scenario is that I read 'Greeks' implying that we are not. Sorry to say that I somehow hold that against you, since you as administrator are in a position to warn people if you want to.
So instead of complaining about that, I just left you guys do your own thing. But logged in to check up, yes, I knew you'd be able to know that as administrator.

.. Old fashioned long message, Giorikas style ;-)

How are you ?

[Soldier of Macedon]

Ah, my old friend Giorikas, όπου εξαφανίστηκαν βρε, lol, you know, I have noticed that you log on quite often but you don't seem to post брачко

You haven't been banned because you haven't denied the identity of the Macedonian people.

If you consider the basic human characteristics of dignity and respect as 'rules' in the practical sense, then it is a sad fact in yourself that you need to address all the more urgently, παλιό φίλο.

What's my end of the bargain mate?

[Giorikas]

Spartan, you are not the last Greek on this site, but you are the only Greek who contributes on a regular basis, your response to the above is honest and well-balanced. We could probably never come to a full concensus, but looking at other neighbour nations that is not an obstacle to progress, I am sure Ireland and England, France and England, Germany and France, etc have differences for example....

I will tell you something though, if the Greeks that have been banned thus far did not deny the existence of the Macedonians and the Macedonian identity, and showed the same courtesy of reference by calling us Macedonians as we call them Greeks, 99% of them would still be here. I leave the %1 margin for complete racist idiots like the morons over at maggotsontheweb.

Hello Soldier of Macedonia,

I guess most don't bother anymore and just ignore this site. I for 1 never broke any rule and I am not banned, but you're not keeping your end of the bargain ..

[Soldier of Macedon]

Spartan, you are not the last Greek on this site, but you are the only Greek who contributes on a regular basis, your response to the above is honest and well-balanced. We could probably never come to a full concensus, but looking at other neighbour nations that is not an obstacle to progress, I am sure Ireland and England, France and England, Germany and France, etc have differences for example....

I will tell you something though, if the Greeks that have been banned thus far did not deny the existence of the Macedonians and the Macedonian identity, and showed the same courtesy of reference by calling us Macedonians as we call them Greeks, 99% of them would still be here. I leave the %1 margin for complete racist idiots like the morons over at maggotsontheweb.

[Spartan]

I didnt realize how old the topic was, my bad.
And just to make it clear, I am in no way questioning your reasoning for banning people,I hope it didnt come across that way.
Anyways, Ill answer the question since I am the only Greek left on the site.

doesn't something strike you the least bit wrong about your country's recent history and what you have been taught in school?

My education in Greece was short lived, as my family moved to Canada when I was pretty young, so I cant say much about that. The greek schools I attended in Toronto didnt really focus on history, but mostly on reading,writing and religion. The recent history of greece as I know it, is mostly from my father and grandfather, and books i have personally opted to read.
I did not know much about the history of northern greece until recently, and I agree with you that its a bit 'off' as you say. However, I believe that some of the opinions of greeces recent history Ive read on this forum are 'off' as well. I believe the truth lies somewhere in the middle of our peoples 2 'versions' of Greeces recent history.

I hope I answered the question to your satisfaction.
I am not one to 'dodge'....

[Soldier of Macedon]

The thread began 2 month ago so they had plenty of time before they were booted out. But you are right Spartan, many of them have been banned from here, because they were unable to display even the most minimum respect for the Macedonians, and we will not be mocked by some grkoman or prosfiga who has identity issues and complexities.

So, we shall wait.....