There aren't many people who are gonna allow themselves to be insulted without responding, and that's fair. This thread had a lot of issues with new members joining up and asking questions that were already addressed ad nauseum, and I think the quick insults were a bit more warranted at that time (though still overdone). Now, it seems like folks are too trigger-happy with pushing people around whenever they act contrary to the consensus view. This happened a bit yesterday and was unnecessary IMO. And the problem is always in the fact that folks respond and it escalates when it would be better if folks just let it ____ing go. But that isn't human nature I guess. Sequence of events seem to be as follows:
1) new guy posts something others know or against consensus view of established forum members
2) established forum member chides new guy, often in an insulting manner, frequently calling him a name in the process
3) new guy responds defensively
4) established forum member comes back with more of same, escalating silly forum argument
5) other established forum members start in
6) new guys responds, possibly starting to use insults himself, because he feels bullied and doesn't want to be pushed around by mob of angry, established toy forum geeks
7) Posts are reported and PMs start coming in, usually from both sides of the discussion (including the silent group of pro-new member supporters who don't post for fear of being insulted)
8) Crisis is averted through either suggestions, warnings, infractions, or closed threads
9) Wash, rinse, repeat.l
Surely someone with your magnitude of superior wit can come up with something better than a lame smilie.
Say hi to #5