You're right, the point of the Forum was to get us out of the "news" area. But the end affect has been to raise the intensity of the debate.
JR doesn't like the flame wars, and rightfully so.
He knew the flame wars would intensify and made statements to the effect that he was going to allow for such things.
I guess our problems would be solved if the participants would start to act like grown-ups instead Holy Warriors. I read a book recently, fiction set during the Crusades. When the Crusaders entered Jerusalem they killed everything they could lay sword to, Muslim, Jew, Christian, it didn't matter to them. They were liberating Jerusalem for God and no one was going to stand in there way, not even fellow believers. I think some have that same mindset. They are going to liberate FR for God and no one will stand in their way.
-Kevin