As it is, this is becoming an irrelevant site to me.

I fear that's a growing trend among the cooler-headed stalwarts, Frank. Mary Anne said essentially <a href="http://www.habitablezone.com/flame/messages/286707.html>the same thing early this morning. Wonder of wonders, Tech1 agreed in his reply and made some good points. I've been asymptotically approaching the same feeling, resulting from my recently increased presence.

Unfortunately, we live in "interesting times", of just the sort to make that old toast a curse rather than a blessing. As Tech1 points out, the issues have polarized even the most even-handed of us. The stridency has a feedback component that, being human, none of us are entirely immune to.

Couple of months ago, there were a couple of very long threads (started by me in both cases, I admit) about what to do with 'trolls', and worse. The consensus - which still makes the most sense - is to ignore them. "I've got a little list," as Pooh-Bah sang, and I'll bet you've got yours, too: people whose posts you intenionally won't read, or at least won't respond to.

The longer-term trend I've noticed here is cyclical - eventually things cool off, the trolls lose interest when they no longer get their trollish jollies, and the grown-ups get the chance to listen to each other again. I think (that is, I hope) it will remain possible to rise above the rabble. Tech1 said, "This isn't a contest. It isn't a formal debate. It's really not that consequential in the scheme of things," and he's right. On the other hand, we each assign our own personal importance to participation here - I'm one with Robert in feeling a sense of true community and friendship among many of us, and I believe that's stronger than the transitory issues.

In a nutshell: patience, old friend - this too shall pass.