You are not alone in starting something with peaceable intentions and watching something completely different take shape. It has happened to a whole bunch of us.

I have an interest in this.

Kampervan's thread is still live It is instructive to look at how and why it changed.

Who made the first acrimonious post?
Who posted the first gratuitous personal abuse about people's character, faith, etc.?
Who first referred to years old discussions to try and make a case against other contributors instead against of their expressed views on the current subject?

Who first objected to these abuses and tried to restore harmony?
(That last one was me actually. Hence my interest in this.)