Bill, I find *most* people from the US debate reasonably, the really vicious ones, mainly from the UK, are not here for debate especially on the issue that you have covertly referred to.
On the contrary, they want debate closed down as debate exposes the truth about certain behaviour, and that truth does not sit well with their political agenda.
I am not sure if you fit that description, but I am beginning to have my doubts, perhaps you are just too nice a guy to speak your mind?

How I am perceived by others on this forum is always coloured by their own views, and most here are centre left liberals, and I would not expect such people to agree with the views of a radical socialist.

They talk the talk, but certainly do not walk the walk.
What they think of me on a personal level, has no bearing on my political views, I have a handful of very good friends here, whom I trust implicitly, they know some of my personal details and I care deeply about them.   That is as much as anyone can hope for on an open forum.