Lots of good posts here, forgive me if I do not have the energy to give each the specific response it deserves.
To clarify something that may have been inferred by some, this is not an "I'm leaving 'cuz you all don't play nice" post. It was also not an attempt to be playground monitor, though both of those inferences would be justified.
I also didn't intend to single out the current urinary olymplics between MT and BSB. It just happened to be the latest example, and it's a pretty good one. There were two or three threads out there with pointless drivel betwen the two of them and others joining in the fray. I couldn't believe the insanity, and I think it is a shame. Both MT and BSB have demonstrated numerous times that they have intelligence, insight and moral courage. It is so discouraging to see those attributes abdicated for the sake of posturing. And the level of debate is lowered when this kind of feud erupts because others drop to that level and then we have people slinging insults instead of offering substantive responses to points. BSB and MT are by no means the only combatants in this kind of war.
Those who suggest that more frequent visits on my part might be part of the solution make a good point, but I am getting older and my diabetes is getting worse. The mental energy it takes to contribute rational thoughts, support those thoughts when challenged with credible sources, respond to well-reasoned counterpoints and dodge the mudslinging (or get sucked into it myself) costs more than it did almost a decade ago when I first joined PIC. Some of you may recall that you couldn"t shut me up back then. And I'm sure all of you know I can give as well as I can get when it comes to flame wars. I cannot, however, sustain that level of intensity for long - and that is less a function of age than of temperment.
Most of the critiques offered here of my own post (or posting style) are valid - both the good ones and bad (though the good ones are MORE valid - lol). My post is not about being personally insulted (none of the mud was aimed at me) but about a sense of despair in looking at the degeneration of intelligent debate into mud-wrestling. It's kind of like that sick feeling I get when I really consider the gulf disaster. It isn't directly effecting me personally, but it's sickening and frustrating to watch.
My point in this post was to vent that frustration. I was listening to ZAMM (I'm doing the audio book thing this time) and reflecting on it and checked in to this site on a whim. I contrasted the uplifting and mentally stimulating exercise of that book, and the other pursuits I'm doing now (another of which is carrying on lively debates on FB) and I lament the state of the debate on this site. Right now, I am debating with my Bishop, his non-member daughter and several friends who are on both sides of the aisle about the gulf spill. I just recently engaged with my eldest son (who has grown surprisingly liberal these days - lol) about the immigration laws in Arizona. All of the tension and passion is there - but none of the personal attacks. This lends, btw, some credence to that other thread about anonymity emboldening aggression in debate on the internet. Most of us know each other personally and very closely on FB. That tends to moderate our responses.
But we are not really anonymous here on 3DHS, are we? We may not know each other's real names or have RL relationships, but we have all mostly communicated with each other for several years now on a fairly regular basis. That familiarity may have bred contempt, but I would hope we are all old and wise enough to let it also breed some kind of pseudo-filial respect.
Anyway, I know I am not a moderator, and I lack the energy or commitment to try to control so many dynamic personalities. BT and thr others who referee these skimishes are better people than I am. But I do think that pointing out the issue does have some valid value in contributing to a solution.
