I don't get this. I don't see that much hostility here (other than minimal isolated incidents).
It depends where you hang out, I guess.
Sorry you feel this way.
It has nothing to do with hostility.
It has to do with a few individuals venting their frustration or whatever with life, the universe, their careers or whatever, pissing on everything and everybody, usually without giving it much thought. The atmosphere has turned sour and I've got better things to do than to read the "personal opinions" they so proudly defend.
Cheers!
P.S.: Am I the only one that has noticed that at least one frequent poster has left quietly because of this? Apparently, because everyone else has posted useless "happy birthdays" for him.
The ability to disagree, while at the same time respecting others differing views is obviously a skill or attribute most of us are simply not very good at, or just don't have. Sadly.
So simple conversations become slugfests, which then end up too often with pick-your-favorite-card being played. Racist, anti-semitic, or when really floundering around I guess, just toss out a nazi riff or two -- always a showstopper that one.
And to try and escape slight criticism by trying to equate that europeans have called Nixon a crook or Johnson a killer or whatever -- thus its okay to keep yanking that old nazi chain -- pretty weak really.