"The ball is in your court to make this a fruitful discussion. I would welcome that.
Picking up your marbles and going home accomplishes nothing."

Precisely, that is the attitude that drove people away.
The ball is not in any one participants court in a meaningful discussion....one where there is a real interest in a view you do not hold.

This one time interesting discussion has been turned into a Kangeroo court (by a few like thinking mudcatters) using a scientific validity test on individual beliefs. Even the wisest scientists were wise enough not to go dawn that road. Where did you think that would lead?

Additionally, a fruitless discussion results from folks who browbeat others away, leaving it to two or three people with the same opinions. So, why bring it back...let it die, like other fruitless threads? As I noted, it is merely pointless.

The marbles are yours. You persist, while others have left. take them home, if it makes you folks feel superior. While it likely made some agressive posters feel surperior nbeings, with superior opinions, what did it prove? Nothing to most.

Welcoming discussion differs from setting the stage for meaningful discussion, where folks (regardless of their opinion) feel "welcome" to express their views and inner feelings and beliefs without being belittled and taunted.

Sorry to have singled you out...but, you seemed to ask.