The Question and Answer Board

[sophist]

If "everyone" filtered such persons, there would probably be no issue; but if many respond to such a poster, lacking requisite self-control, then much of the board's energy and productive focus becomes diluted and diverted, leading some of the most helpful posters into unrestrained language and brawls that might get them sidelined or jailed, depriving the board of their postings and contributing to unnecessary board frustrations. If constructive posters are thereby prevented from posting or, as a result of their frustrations, choose to leave the board, the ratio of non-productive to useful postings increases, and the useful level of discourse declines, leading to a gradual deterioration of constructive board discourse. I have noticed such a decline recently and wonder about the trend (is it short term or long term?). It bears watching.