[Jeff Higgins]

My only real complaint around here is what I have seen as a marked downturn in politeness and civility. I've done my level best to try to treat others here politely, but some have made that very difficult at times. I'm ashamed of the fact that I've crawled down into that gutter with them on a few occasions. I've resolved to try not to get sucked in like that anymore, but I do have my breaking point. I'm working on it though. I wish others would do the same. To do that, of course, they would first have to acknowledge that they have a problem. Our "usual suspects" appear incapable of that.

There are a few people on this forum, on both sides of the political/ideological spectrum, who simply cannot respond to anyone in anything but a snarky, condescending manner. Our "usual suspects". I'm not sure how they think that behavior might reinforce their point - it has, of course, exactly the opposite affect, and has only succeeded in earning them their reputations as tiresome boors.

I remember when the standard of behavior on these forums was to pretend we were in Wayne's living room, with his wife and kids present. A pretty easy standard to meet, really. And those who could not meet that standard were simply invited to leave. Those days are long gone.

I've come to just ignore those guys. Not that I have them on "ignore" - I just skim over their nonsense and move on. Granted, yes, I have fired back at a few - not when they attacked me, but rather when they have gone after others who in no way deserved their childish attacks. No more. It's not my place. It's not worth it - they just dig in deeper in their unending quest to "win the internet" today. In the end, I just feel sorry for them, and whatever it is in their lives that drives them to turn to the internet to lash out at others. I just wish the moderators would deal with them, and return this to the "Wayne's living room" standard of discourse.