The Mudcat is a community. Just as in a real community there are some people who get along and become very good friends and those who irritate each other.

Once upon a time we had two people in our office who just could not get along. They couldn't be in the same room together. Each of them individually were great people but together the chemistry was all wrong. We have the same problem here.

So quit worrying about fights and cynicism. If you see a thread developing along those lines just ignore it. Some people just don't get along.

Now, I believe that those people could meet, face to face, over a beer, they would change their tunes (Does this make it a musical thread now?). But that won't happen too quickly. Let those who want to argue alone and let them spend their energies without upsetting the rest of us.