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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Engleham (talk | contribs) at 11:20, 23 January 2006 (Sexuality). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

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The Misplaced Pages Manual of Style says: "Articles with a single picture are encouraged to have that picture at the top of the article, right-aligned, but this is not a hard and fast rule. Portraits with the head looking to the right should be left-aligned (looking into the article)."

That's why I changed Billy to the left - it looks better. Pete 11:18, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Eric's edits

TIRED OF... Surely 'becomed disillusioned' is more accurate and felicitious 'tired of.'.

Further, Im not sure what 'a homosexual' is. As a noun its is too vague whilst 'homosexuality' is a direct and accurate description.

TIRED OF...2 As a fact, he had three children which clearly places him outside of the category of 'homosexual'. Thus I belive there were rumours of his 'homosexuality'. which is far more accurate And further the phrase 'tired of.' at the end of a sentence is ugly: 'grown disillusoned' is, as Ive stated before, more accurate and better language.

• If you're not sure what a homosexual is, I suggest you get out more.
• Oscar Wilde was married with children too. There is no necessary contradiction.
• In any case, the article refers to the content of the rumours, not the facts. I have no idea if McMahon was homosexual. I do know that he was widely rumoured to be, and that's what the article says.
• My main problem with your edits, however, is that that they are nearly always mis-spelled and ungrammatical, and add little of value. I suggest that you find a topic in which you have some expertise in and write about it, and leave other articles alone. Adam 06:08, 15 August 2005 (UTC)

Moreover, Eric, the effect of your edits is to completely change the sentence meaning. By writing "his homosexuality" you are implying that he was, without doubt, homosexual. This was never substantiated. And I suggest you read the last sentence of the last paragraph properly, too.--Cyberjunkie | Talk 06:15, 15 August 2005 (UTC)

I might add, however, that I am not opposed to changing "a government the electorate had grown tired of" to "a government the electorate had grown/become disillusioned (or some synonym) with".

"Disillusioned" is a dreadful journalist's cliche, and implies that the electorate was previously in a state of illusion, which is an opinion for which no evidence has been produced. The fact is that in 1972 the electorate was simply tired of the Liberals, and I used that phrase quite deliberately. Adam 06:38, 15 August 2005 (UTC)

Then I relent. I am not fond of the word "disillusioned", but I did, to an extent, agree that "tired of" sounded infelicitous. Now I fear I've added fuel to the flame. Sorry, --Cyberjunkie | Talk 06:43, 15 August 2005 (UTC)

I agree with Adam. - Aaron Hill 11:44, August 15, 2005 (UTC)

Then please rvt his last edit - I am over the limit. Adam 12:12, 15 August 2005 (UTC)

I support a revert.--Cyberjunkie | Talk 12:15, 15 August 2005 (UTC)

The following ancedote is somewhat relevant to the discussion of McMahon's sexuality.

From The Bulletin magazine, 09/07/2005

The dishonorable member By Tony Wright

"Billy McMahon was much given to nakedness, too: former senior public servants recall McMahon when PM in the early 1970s would rove the men’s dressing rooms at the old squash courts in Manuka. Wearing not a stitch, he was in the habit of approaching other men and virtually demanding they engage in long, often meaningless conversations. He seemed not to know the meaning of private space, according to one who always felt there was a peculiar nature to the approaches. The only newspaper report was a picture of McMahon with a black eye, which he said occurred in a game when he was hit by an opponent’s racquet."