(01-16-2015, 10:40 PM)Mímir Wrote: Yet it installs other mechanisms of division, as people in various ways pointed out in this thread, and plenty, plenty of other threads.
Sure, there will always be divisions, but there are far more opportunities to move up and get support by being reasonable and diplomatic. In how many cases did people try to get their way, but added insults, confrontation, assigned blame, made broad generalizations, had one-sided arguments, etc.? They're not the greatest ways to persuade people, whether in here or real life.
If people want to put up an unfriendly front and try to change things by fighting rather than holding a civil discussion, that's their decision. If someone has a personal code not to compromise by making any concessions our courtesies to others, I'm sure they're fun at parties. Maybe they feel this is a warzone, where we need forum freedom fighters engaging in guerrilla warfare, exposing conspiracies, tearing people or things down, which will somehow lead to a better Discovery They're all going to have a hard time affecting change unless they can start negotiating peacefully, or regain some of that goodwill in other ways, like tangible, positive mod/community contributions.