Or has the level of debate on this forum really taken a downward turn? I've noticed that few postings reflect serious thought being put the segments they are discussing and that most disagreements on here take a nasty ad hominem tone when the debater finds that their personal theories are dared to be questioned.

While I have been guilty of this a few times myself, it seems to be the road that this forum is going down. Am I mistaken...or is that the case?

It isn't the forum. A general disintegration of consideration and respect is all-pervasive in every aspect of society in all developed countries and even those under development. There are rude people in undeveloped countries, too, but they probably can't blame trends the way most of the world can.

I haven't noticed any personal attacks abundantly going on at all. Some threads may get out of hand here and there every now and then with 2 or 3 posters, but that's going to happen when you have different people coming from different walks of life debating about things. Take a look at Congress.

It's hard to keep continuous debate about a show that died spiritually a long time ago. We do our best, with updates filtering through about various cases from yesteryear but it's good to see some light-heartedness on this forum too.

Actually, I don't think it's too bad here. And while I haven't seen anyone be rude, I have seen and been part of some interesting discussions.

It would be pretty dull if we all agreed. When I joined I was 100 % sure of Tommy Z's guilt. But after reading all the info and debate here, I now believe there is a chance(albeit slight) that he might be innocent.

I joined a local to my area forum a few months ago thinking it might be fun to discuss local interests. Those are the rudest bunch of people I have ever seen. Trolls, flaming, totally OT. Makes this place look pretty tame. I like it here.:D

Well I certainly don't think the level of debate has taken a downward turn. You have to bear in mind this message board is about a show where many of the segments don't have endings. That in itself makes a lot of our discussions pure speculation which sometimes leads to differences of opinions of course. I've gotten many, many compliments on this board over the years and usually when the discussions have turned heated in the past is when people aren't mature enough to handle when someone disagrees with them and take it personally. It is normal for people to butt heads from time to time based on the subject matter here but I think the vast majority of posters on here are very mature and respectful to others when discussing the cases.

...the vast majority of posters on here are very mature and respectful to others when discussing the cases.

^ This is primarily the reason this forum is one of only two I've ever joined. I think it is a total anomaly in the world of internet message boards, and that's a great thing. One of the things that struck me when I joined in 2008 was that many of the members here have been very active on the board ever since joining years ago. I took that as a good sign. I was met with tons of friendly people and never once endured the chastisement that a lot of other board "newbies" on other forums experience when they begin posting extensively on topics. Whenever I had (and still have) questions about segments, multiple members sought (and still seek) out an answer. Lots of people help each other out here.

Every once in a while, someone takes something personally or provides a snarky response, but ultimately that's actually rather rare. I've always felt there has been a general air of amity here.

I'm going on almost 11 years posting here. And that may be the longest of any current poster. But I can't think of any times where I was literally arguing with folks. Debates over segments and differing opinions have been fine about 95% of the time. At least from what I have witnessed.

The only time I can remember "arguing" with posters was when we were overrun by family members of the Maples after Bobby and Christie were found in 2009. Their defense of kidnapping and destroying the family just didn't sit well with me. And even if their accusations of the Baskins had been true, their arguments were devoid of any logic. So I had to unload some heavy snark but even then, I was biting my tongue for the most part.

I've never been anything but the picture of saintly civility. :wave:

I guess if you don't like it...well you already did! lol

I joined a local to my area forum a few months ago thinking it might be fun to discuss local interests. Those are the rudest bunch of people I have ever seen. Trolls, flaming, totally OT. Makes this place look pretty tame. I like it here.:D

I've stopped reading the "comments" sections of the articles on my local news website altogether, for exactly the same things you cited. The Fremdschämen was intense.

The Fremdschämen was intense.


There you go with the name calling....call me that again and I'll frem your damned schämen missy!!!

There you go with the name calling....call me that again and I'll frem your damned schämen missy!!!

:p

quit with the hate and just be glad Unsolved Mysteries still has forum members who celebrate the best show besides FAmily Guy.

I guess if you don't like it...well you already did! lol

:lol: Bravo, Apo...bravo.

I haven't really been here long enough to notice the tone yet. I must say that I enjoy the different takes and theories on the cases from some of the posters here. Some argument I guess is to be expected because there are a lot of passionate people in here, as I am one of them! Some of the cases profiled are cut and dry and others are open for interpretation.

I do enjoy this site, probably because there aren't many out there like it that goes in depth about the cases and can let us ofer our two cents, so to speak.

Relax, you guys. I think some of you might have missed the fact that Cocytus left the board in a huff after he verbally attacked a victim's family member who posted on a board and Crystaldawn asked him to stop. Then I cried for days and days and days and couldn't get out of bed. Just kidding about that last part.

Anyways, I think the rest of you are great. I really do! I've posted here longer than probably any other website. Seems weird, seeing as UM was cancelled so long ago, but there's always more to discuss.

Then I cried for days and days and days and couldn't get out of bed. Just kidding about that last part.

So you were able to get out of bed?;)

Relax, you guys. I think some of you might have missed the fact that Cocytus left the board in a huff after he verbally attacked a victim's family member who posted on a board and Crystaldawn asked him to stop. Then I cried for days and days and days and couldn't get out of bed. Just kidding about that last part.

Anyways, I think the rest of you are great. I really do! I've posted here longer than probably any other website. Seems weird, seeing as UM was cancelled so long ago, but there's always more to discuss.

I'm glad cocytus is gone. He was the sole reason why the majority of the replies had a "nasty ad hominem tone".

I've got nothing against the man, and this isn't meant to be an insult, but nobody really leaves a message board.

I have found when one gets mad and makes a dramatic exit that they usually cool off and return...in one form or another!;)

Relax, you guys. I think some of you might have missed the fact that Cocytus left the board in a huff after he verbally attacked a victim's family member who posted on a board and Crystaldawn asked him to stop. Then I cried for days and days and days and couldn't get out of bed. Just kidding about that last part.


This. I don't know how this thread means much when the person who starts it, is the guiltiest of all in doing the stuff he was criticizing. It's kind of like an own UM.

This. I don't know how this thread means much when the person who starts it, is the guiltiest of all in doing the stuff he was criticizing. It's kind of like an own UM.

Absolutely. When I saw this thread started, I shook my head at the unbelievable detachment from reality he must have. "I'm guilty of this, from time to time." :rolleyes: Really? Because most of the time, his posts were just that.

I have found when one gets mad and makes a dramatic exit that they usually cool off and return...in one form or another!;)
Yes, I believe Newton wrote about that law shortly after he discovered the law of gravity. :lol:

I'm glad cocytus is gone. He was the sole reason why the majority of the replies had a "nasty ad hominem tone".

I was going to suggest to him that maybe something in his own posts was causing people to react in a hostile manor. (A polite way of saying "you get back what you give out.") But, he up and left. Darn. :)