"Aye Dave" Hi. I think that one person's "personal attack" may be another's "heated debate". This IS a public forum and I just don't think it will EVER be completely free of nastiness. Right now the flamers are in the tinyest minority possible...and I think that is BECAUSE OF THE BALANCE.Frankie. When the "spirituality" was overt and prominent, it rubbed a lotta people the wrong way. But that EXACTLY reflects what happens (and polarizes) ANY community.
At one time there was an amazing discussion of alternative sexuality here...but you could just see that some folks got so agitated they wanted to scream! There have been discussions about music used by the Nazis..(holy cow, that made me very uncomfortable...so I just didn't go into those threads..well I did, but I didn't respond)
Currently there are threads about Jewish, Christian and Pagan holidays. Isn't that "balance"? Can't see how anyone would get offended. Seems pretty spiritual to me.
The "Elian" and "Guns" threads provide "real" information on what people think from all sides. Just listen to the folks on CNN. The "Pros" are so brainwashed in their political ideologies that they sound like broken records. The "man in the street" interviews sound like they purpously pick folks who can barely form a thought or complete a sentence. Nope, I'll take Mudcatters on that score.
One other thing about the "Flamers". I am absolutely convinced that they are not "occasional lurkers looking to stir up shit" as I theorized here a few months ago. I strongly suspect that they follow things pretty closely and use the anonymity for "shock value". Catters who REALLY abhor that kind of stuff shouldn't respond. But they do.(I try not to..but on occasions have responded...usually with a joke)
I guess my main criterion for staying a part of Mudcat is "is it interesting?" Well yes it is. I've made a number of friends here, and Mudcat or not, they'll continue to be my friends, but the forum in general has to hold our interest, and I think it's doing that quite well right now.
Rick