Reply #48: you make some good points...one point of contention, however

[noiretextatique]

most of the threads that started the eruption of other threads were in fact about personal responsibility. particularly in that monster "rape law," thread...the issue was exactly that. of course different people had various takes on it, but imho, that's the gist of what the law is all about...personal responsibility.
as to how acts in taking personal responsibility here, i think the more egregious examples of irreponsibility (some of it is willful) should be met with whatever is appropriate. this includes alerting moderators, and banning those interested only in disruption.
other than that, i agree with most of what you wrote, and others have plead for a more civil debate here, on all topics. i'm all for that.