Bows, I think you nailed one of my motivations for standing up to the hate I saw. ER is once again gone because he could see the condition welling up again and I understand that extraordinary people (and it's my opinion ER falls into that category) understand fully the value of their time. He probably knows as I do that this fight in here is a futile one given the personalities and structure involved and that he can probably do more good in the world in a forum that doesn't tolerate the evil. I've been really close to making that decision myself but my own talents at debate can be improved by challenging the stuff the other side is throwing. It also gives me a look into that mindset that one never gets in the real world or in areas that ban the trolls.

I also really like and respect some of the members of this forum and truly don't want them out of my life. Even though I'd stay in touch by email, I know we'd grow apart should I just start ignoring this place.

If ER never returns, it will be a loss but I'll also know that he went out on high moral ground, something the opposition on here will never attain. I hope, if he's lurking, he also sees that while he was contributing and challenging the vicious stuff, it actually toned down and it was only after his departure that Tom started with his veiled put downs again. It was a reason I stood up, to let him know that this place isn't controlled by any one person and that people deviating from cordial debate behavior would still have their hand slapped every time they tried it.

I'm very pleased with how my original flame evolved. It went to the heart of the problem and looked into both the good and harm and ultimately the necessity of human empathy in a functioning society. Cold, calculating, fearful, and greedy humans will be with us for eternity. It's relatively easy to stop them from attaining power as long as one watches them like hawks and pays attention as well to their audience. At the first sign that their message begins to creep through to the median of society, vigilant individuals must speak up loudly and shine the light on their true motivation.

Art