Name-calling escalates the bad feelings in quarrelsome threads. When complaints come in and I take the time to read through such a thread (instead of just closing it) the verbal slugfest is usually the worst part of the problem. My participating in a thread or not is my choice, and with all but the thesis in an M.A. in environmental philosophy, this one is a natural.

If you guys want to keep insulting the intelligence of participants and outsiders who might want to take a look, then we can just keep closing noxious threads. These are the reason a lot of good people have left Mudcat.org, they're tired of the unrestrained nonsense. I suppose my incidentally turning your attention to me instead of insulting each other has brought a small accord amongst some of you. Keep up the good work.

SRS