Well, as one of the guilty parties, I wish to say that the majority of the unpleasantness on the subject begins when conversations on the topic are dragged downhill into mudslinging, name-calling, scatological characterizations, and the like.

There are a few, really, who have resorted to these anti-social mechanisms over the years, notably MG, and a few other slimers. I have unfortunately occasionaly been irked into replying in kind with sarcasm and individual investive. I have made a resolution not to let that recur; we'll see if I have the fortitude and spiritual "sand" to stick to that resolution. It is always a little tempting to wade into one of these food-fights! :D

Those of us who do not want to resort to fifth-grade style methods of discourse are more than interested in counter-discussion, preferably specific, unambiguous, unhateful, analytical, intelligent and constructive.

A