We have seen time and again where posters complain that threads have deteriorated. I do not believe they deteriorate because of the difference of opinions being expressed. After all, that's what the forums are for. I believe that threads deteriorate because of lack of respect and the various ways this manifests itself in the language posters use.
You can see this pattern emerging when the issues are no longer the focus of the discussion. When posters start to personalize their comments then respect is lost. "Linguistic indulgences" then begin to emerge and a trend develops where juvenile responses begin to dominate the discussion. Thus, the issues become subsumed and posters who would otherwise be contributing to the threads back off. Understandably.
You can see this pattern emerging when the issues are no longer the focus of the discussion. When posters start to personalize their comments then respect is lost. "Linguistic indulgences" then begin to emerge and a trend develops where juvenile responses begin to dominate the discussion. Thus, the issues become subsumed and posters who would otherwise be contributing to the threads back off. Understandably.