Well see...I don't take any of it personally (at least 99.9% of the time ;-) If Robert calls me a "whackjob" or someone get's all nasty because of something I've posted, it just rolls right off of me.

Sure, it's taken many years of learning to detach from criticism, insults, derision, mocking etcetera. But in the end it's well worth it. It's the ultimate enabler- you're not paralyzed by the opinions and thoughts of others. If anything one develops a healthy dose of compassion for these folks still ensnared by petty emotionalisms.

You missed the board creation discussion which took place some years ago. CE was designed for political posts or "current" events. Off-topic was designed for everything else. Off-topic is a bad name because it immediately disparages the content of these posts as if they are somehow aberrations. Perhaps Robert can rename it the "Stuff" board. ;-) Flame was meant to be a catch-all from any and all of the boards "heated" discussions. I remember how much Justin really loved the flame graphic. The knock-down cursefests & Mars versus Moon threads were originally moved there.

I agree, too much conflict is terrible. I wish more folks could learn to detach from the emotion and just stick with facts and issues. Getting personal is the biggest portent that you are losing an argument or a discussion. Unfortunately, often these are not at their disposal and so the nasty comments are forthcoming.

Creativity is sometimes appreciated, but other times its an anathema to the collective body of the Zone. I enjoyed sharing fiction here for awhile but eventually even those vignettes would attract partisan fire and snark. So why bother? Some folks don't come here to be nice - they come here for the same reason folks play "lasertag" - they want an escape mechanism that "tags" someone and boosts their self-esteem in the process.

Deprive them of that "boost" and you become their natural enemy.

You are a sensitive soul ER, you can't stand dissension. That's good for you! But Zoners needs have never been, and will never be, equal.

Calling it like it is doesn't always win me friends, but hey if I wanted a non-judgmental friend - I'd buy a fish.

;-)