[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Rob!

I think it does rather open the floodgates to pointless political arguments, which a lot of the time can create more personal insults than most topics, but at the same time, the topics would just end up being somewhere else and in fairness, if people can't be mature enough to listen to other people's opinions than actually listening to another side of an argument and instead act like mentally challanged children, then at least the SD section is keeping them off the streets.

How rude :/

If in chat and games they spoke of anything deeper than their love for the latest meme it might draw out some genuine resonance towards a topic.

Look at politics in the UK at the moment there are personal insults, backbiting, infighting and spin ... why would here be any different?
The issues we see on the news that are brought here for debate will create a degree of polarisation due to our personal life experiences, occasionally that can create a distinct division as is seen in wider society, we are a cross section here too so why would we have to be held to a higher standard?

Mocking people for attempting to tackle contemporary issues serves no purpose, I am not infallible and occasionally become frustrated I make no apologies for that, personally I find it helps to come here and voice my feelings on current affairs it's a form of escapism.
It's disconcerting to see that your thoughts and feelings are being denigrated to nothing but the ravings of the demented.

It may not always be rational, that is the nature of debate occasionally, I would never purposefully set out to offend or insult anyone, but I can't hand on heart say I've not expressed an opinion that I know will prove controversial... What's the alternative, compromise my principles?

I appreciate there are those who are feeling exactly the same, I also appreciate there are those whose sole purpose it to troll, it's possible to avoid these posters to maintain a thread topic but not always.
That said I see this as nothing more than a thread started to maintain the drama that recent threads created and had no initial positive intent anyway IMO however I felt it necessary to attempt to give a reasoned view based on my opinion as a regular contributor to SD.