Fear

[Zapmeister]

Those who have a more limited "world" try to make it fit all of their community needs.

This could explain why threads go off-topic, but doesn't really explain Aikamun's primary concern (the way I read it) which was the hurtful loss of civility in some threads.

I think this happens in all electronic forums, primarily because of the absence of eye contact and other body language that acts to promote civil behaviour in face to face interactions. It takes a certain amount of maturity and conscious effort to avoid the temptation to be rude, and similarly to understand and forgive rudeness when it's directed at you.

It's not always easy. I used to hang out in USEnet religion Groups because I like to talk religion (even though I'm not religious) but after a sustained personal assault by another poster, I finally had to quit.

By comparison, this forum is a model of decorum.