Some years (decades?) ago I frequented a rather pleasant little "social watering hole" that was always well attended by a very congenial, although varied clientel.

Unfortunately, a small group started coming in who generally sequestered themselves in a corner and "argued for the sake of arguing."

At first the regulars pretty much ignored them, but occasionally one would "get involved" in their "debates." As more and more of the regulars started to notice them, and occasionally joined in, the "mood" of the place became increasingly "combative" and the regulars who weren't interested in their phony "debates" came less regularly.

It took about a year before patronage dropped to the point that the original owners couldn't pay the lease, and sold the business. It moved "across the street," and the last time I stopped in at the "new" place there were two waitresses, one cook, one bartender, and two customers, in place of the average of 30 - 40 regulars previously in the old place.

Not long ago, I saw a "review" of a book with a title something like Brawling As a Recreation. This was a "history" of Irish immigrants in the US, apparently based on analysis of anecdotes about the "eastern Irish bar scene" during the immigrant period. The premise appeared to be "some people just like to argue" when they have nothing much else to do.

Unfortunately many of us don't understand how to tell when an "argument" is just for the sake of argument, and for those of us so affected being in the presence of constant "contentiousness" is unpleasant.

On the other side, those who are "just gaming each other" DON'T COMPREHEND how unpleasant their "games" are to the innocents who may, accidentally or out of curiosity, come into "their area."

Participation at mudcat, IMO, has suffered from the unpleasantness of behaviours of a kind that confuses the innocents, but apparently satisfies a small group of "brawlers."

If we were all among the offended, NO ONE WOULD EVER reply to posts obviously intended to "flame" a subject, but we do apparently have a sufficent number who enjoy "mutual insult matches." The rest of us should just ignore.

Perhaps eventually the brawlers will realize how boring their exchanges are and either leave or cease to participate.

Of course, that's just one opinion - - subject to discussion.

John