sree251 wrote -
"Coming here ought to be like coming to a bar for a chat about serious things with fellowmen, guys. Apparently, this is a dead tradition."
In the US people might talk politics or religion at a bar ... in Australia for a couple of generations for example, there are three classes of subjects best avoided, sport, religion and politics. That's eroding somewhat due to poor schooling efforts that focus on maths science and language the last two or three decades and further education later on in various fields of work.
I have surfed some pretty hostile areas in my time, pretty much giving that away early to mid 00s. "Sandboxes" (nothing is out of bounds) work to en extent, some members might get stuff sorted out or off their chest, but if one takes on the forum's Pet Monster, often it turns out it's actually someone's sandpit due to some line of mercy which wasn't observed.
The problem with heated internet discussions, meant to discuss (ie warring) and not flaming, not everyone has the same idea what would work, have the courtesy to read or observe why someone with a radically different idea thinks the way they do ... and when enough is enough. Think of roosters and their code for sizing and fighting ... it works right up until a rooster takes on something that looks like an opponent, but has a completely different code. I have IMO a very amusing story about a guinea fowl that was raised by a chook, and a nasty bully boss rooster that struck terror into the other roosters ... and how after months of harassing how it went so terribly wrong the first time the guinea fowl was cornered (no where to run) and fought back. But I think in just saying that you get my drift, the old rooster tried all the routines that worked with the average rooster to bow out of the fight ... blood bath. I could have interviened but the rooster was a particularly mean rooster and one I had educated (the water method) not to get people. Another rooster took his spot, and that sod never quite over that hiding, always at the bottom, no longer rising to the challenge.
Eventually people also realise some are never going to change their minds no matter what, those people are looking for an echo chamber or just incapable of understanding anything more than they do.
eg ...
