Some interesting points here. I am struck by the occasional vicious obscenities that some posters use, which, as has been pointed out already, they probably would not use in a face to face discussion. On the other hand, I have to own up to being somewhat potty mouthed in the real world and much more circumspect on line. Perhaps the casual use of obscenity between my friends and me is a product of familiarity and comfort while online you never know to whom you are talking. A name conveys little on its own and many posters use aliases of one kind or another so I opt for discretion. That having been said there have been some splendid debates which I have followed with pleasure and there are certain names that I look out for in a thread because I have learnt to value their insights. There are others who, even though they are well informed, just get on my tits.