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Good post. I'm sure that there are many like myself who have a limited amount of time to scan the various threads here, but it did seem to me that there was an increasing loss of civility in the recent past. What i've noticed is that a few folks are resorting to the most adolescent name-calling: "nitwit" being a favorite invective.

"One can have a rip-roaring take-it-to-the-mat political debate with someone without getting personal, without resorting to childish taunts," ...

This gets it about half of the way there -- I'd argue that one can ONLY have a real political debate if the silly ad-hominem attacks are left out.

But, look at the bright side -- FR must really be bugging the opposition for this level of effort to be applied.

I've noticed increased hostility here too and I've been here since the very beginning. I have a thick skin so it rolls off my back. But I believe there is a concerted effort by some to disrupt and they appear to go out of their way to provoke arguments. Not a big problem if the rest of us realize what is going on. Just refuse to take the bait when somebody tries to engage you in a flamewar. I usually respond with humor or irrelevance and they usually go away.

As the estimable JimRob has pointed out, when you're getting flak, you must be a threat to something the enemy considers important! Move well, communicate well, and shoot at evil ideas, not people!