*********edit******

I would submit that "others" have "set the tone" and the "preferred" style of posting on MB for quite some time now and several have left or greatly reduced their participation in MB as a result, a result of an extended period of that sort of activity.

For myself, and I know it will just give*****all sorts of gleeful feelings, I think it's time to follow 2long to some quiet rock formation where we can "argue" and "discuss" origins all day long, knowing that neither one of us will likely ever change our opinions. But I like discussion with 2long because he's intelligent and not afraid to "defend" his positions. And when he tells me to leave, I'll go over to another spot on God's earth and just "be."

But, you are right about one thing concerning my current interractions ***edit*****and it's an indulgence I am no longer willing to allow myself.

Either the system authorities will step in and take some measures to calm things down and reduce the rhetoric, or they won't. Either way, I will "do my part" by removing myself from the hysteria and posting only if I feel like posting to someone, or not. The system isn't ******nor is anyone elses. It belongs to Dr. Harley. The rest of us are guests on his system, a system that was intended to provide for ALL who came seeking help and not as a haven for vigilanteism.

God bless, and thank you for your considerate post Schoolbus.

******************edit***************

There have been people driven off who were not proven to be trolls.

When long-term, respected forum members are being called rude names and
have their motives questioned.

When new people leave saying they don't feel safe. Not unsafe because of
the trolls, but unsafe because of the alley-like attitude that some mistake
for passion.

When long-time contributing members start seeing fit to leave or curtail
their posting and point out that it is *because* of the vigilante,
self-righteous atmosphere that permeates this forum emanating from a very
few - that members are more concerned about being RIGHT than being helpful
- then it's much more involved than just a difference in delivery.

It isn't about trolls, as someone pointed out recently. IMO, it is the
over-the-top abusive, disrespectful, uncivil responses from a very few
posters who have given themselves permission to do whatever it takes to
garner a "win" which is displayed in one of two ways - the person they have
decided to target either leaves the forum or stops posting anything that
disagrees with the few.

**edit*********

Thank you graplin.

"A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but by his inaction, and in either case he is justly accountable to them for the injury." I choose not to stand silently and watch such injurious behavior. Mimi asked on one of the "disappeared" threads why so many were willing to stand by with inaction - I was traveling and was downloading threads to read on the road but couldn't reply. I was not purposely inactive. I wanted to stand with you. So here I am now.

Once again, about to hit the road, so all I have time to say is, I agree with graplin. Any non-response on my part is due to travel.