It's almost like it's fashionable to think the forum has gone to the dogs and so everybody is convincing themselves that it has. Maybe that's a sign of our collective old age?
Also, as far as politics and religion go - don't forget that some people just enjoy talking about those things, even if it does get a bit heated sometimes. The exact same thing happens with real life friends in the pub, so why is it a problem on here? You don't have to get involved if it's not for you.
This is pretty much exactly what it is.
Its rather ironic that we seem to have a recent trend of people that dont like arguing arguing about arguing (well, whining about arguing would be more accurate).
The other thing is when some people dont like the topic of discussion, they will try and derail it with flippant comments about picks or pictures or whatever. Thats just being a child: if people are taking part in a discussion you dont want to take part in, dont take part in it. Dont try and undermine it because its not for you, on a topic you want or in a tone that you like.
Can we just have the basic, common sense, civil and decent practice of talking about the right things in the right places and leaving people alone on the topic of their choices of discussion topic? As long as its civil, whats the problem? I cant for the life of me understand why thats difficult for some poeple.
Harmony central version:
People want to talk about things you dont want to talk about, get the sand out of your vagina and leave them to it.
/harmony central version.
We do have a very long way to go till we can be compared to there ;)