Too much "friendly fire" among people who share many of the same goals.
The pattern: a first person makes an insensitive remark or at least a remark that a second person perceives as rude. The second person lashes back. The first person then attacks the second person, who snaps back. Soon FReepers are trading insults like "your Mama's so fat" and it goes downhill from there.
I've apologized for being grumpy in one of my responses where I overreacted. I don't expect anyone else to apologize.
I would ask if all FReepers would please do two things. First, carefully consider whether a possible post conveys a tone or message that is, or could be considered, insulting. Try to be as friendly as possible even in disagreeing or criticizing. Second, in reading and responding to others' posts try not to be quick to anger or to easily take offense.
And I don't intend to threaten anyone, but if people can't be more polite, I may try to bring in Jimmy Carter to mediate. :) [After all, he solved the Korean nuclear crisis & won the Nobel Peace Prize, he must be good.]