No interaction missed, just mean-spirited poo-flinging, whether short and nasty, or numbingly verbose and condescendingly authoritarian and self-important.

I seem to see the same names on every thread. Then again, I am usually in the Bernie Group or GD: P.

voice that might actually contribute something worthy once in a while but, since Super Tuesday and since Skinner has made these changes I think it best I take caution.

Seems to help with the blood pressure, too

may work, too--as long as you don't react to someone before putting him, her, it or them on ignore.

Someone posted an OP regarding the large attendance to a Bernie rally in Utah and right out of the gate, the #1 reply was a snide comment. It didn't sit well with me so I put the that person on full ignore immediately. Later when I went back to the thread I saw that, for me, the first comment showing was #7 so I had missed #2-6 which were obviously comebacks to the first one. I went back and removed the poster from the full ignore list and low and behold there were the missing replies. I found out I had missed some really good comments that put the poster in his/her place. Then I went back and put him/her on full ignore.

It's kind of a pain but I sure enjoyed my fellow Bernie supporters responses.

of the hides they have aquired. He can do whatever he wants, and bring back great ceasar's ghost if he can.

The drawback is emboldened haters with an axe to grind. IMHO: his bread and gold-star butter.

And the reason for that, aside from the investment of time and money in the board, is probably that posters can do whatever they want as well--meaning that no one is forced to post on any board. I will add: If gold stars or clicks were the only issue, no one would get banned.

P.A. Announcer: [before the start of the New York game] Your attention please... Rule changes for tonight's World Championship Game: No substitutions, no penalties... and no time limit!

That's what some threads are like.

I think some of us may have to think, "Is this the post for which I won't mind being banned without warning or the option to edit?"

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/eft/eft27.htm

Yes. Though I'm not going to lose my sense of humor about this. This was inevitable, same as the Obama vs. Clinton days, and like then it's partly because of the decision to not have moderators and super moderators. Basic politeness shouldn't be optional. Once you let that go by the wayside, things snowball during a contentious and contested primary.

Self moderation by the community is the superior way to go, but not in a highly polarized, highly charged, environment. That environment is seen as a challenge by some, and that leads to a predictable pattern of combative posts. And it's asymmetric combat.

All of that is my opinion. Everyone's mileage may vary.

Yes, very good advice.

This the beginning, not the end.

I have no quarrel with any poster who want to flame out, as long as he or she intends to flame out.

I am trying to avoid people losing it momentarily in the newer climate or assuming incorrectly that anything goes because suspensions will not take place.

Act 3, Scene 1, line 273 of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar: "Cry 'Havoc!', and let slip the dogs of war".