WE DON'T need reality TV shows to tell us how complex relationships can be. The fragility exposed and personal feelings portrayed is explosive drama for the audience. But what about respect and tolerance for those involved in the discord?

Intolerance seems to gather momentum, and commitment to a marriage or relationship seems to wane under the pressure.

In the World News newsbites (Echo, Aug 27,) a man in Russia was set on fire by his former wife. The couple were divorced but living in their marital home. He survived his physical trauma but what of emotional trauma, which takes longer to heal?

We go to drastic measures at times to express our love but also when hatred and frustration dominates then the irrational takes over.

People can function at a number of levels, almost like organisations and governments. There is a time to present a united front' but then the bottle overflows and the cork pops.

We seem to feed off the excitement and misplaced humour when relationships go wrong, when all hell breaks loose and the dirty washing is put out for all to see.

If relationships are worth saving, then let's give people support and safety and if there is little hope or life left in the relationship then let those involved bring it an end without fiasco and with some respect afforded.

Bernie Walsh, Coxhoe.