Jon, I think you are looking at this thread through a fairly distorted lens.

First, any thread can pop to 180 here (and can't at the fRoots forum) because this is a much heavier traffic site. It doesn't have to be a flame thread (to wit: MOABS,Drumcree threads, etc). It really is that simple.

Second, this hasn't been much of a flame thread at all. It's been people dicking around on a hot summer slow news day.

IMO, this has been a gossip sort of thread. If it is a cross-forum flame war, it sure hasn't generated much heat. It has generated humor more than anything.

So what's the 'problem' with this thread? Well, I think you will have to invent one, because none seems to exist beyond a couple of Brits being chuffed that some of their own ain't coming off looking too good here in an American forum.