[DanaC]

Actually I notice it with Spexx as well. And with Tw.

I am not for one moment suggesting that there is no nastiness from leftwing posters, or that the right has a monopoly on this shit. But the majority of people who've been 'driven away' by the nasty political fights over the last year or so have been left-leaning.

You're right though, that it isn't just a matter of left v right. This is about our cultural approach to politics in our community. I am equally disturbed by leftwing posters launching personal attacks and treating their opponents with contempt as I am when it happens the other way around. I see more of it from the right than from the left.

Now, you can suggest that this is because I am leftwing and therefore sympathise with the leftwing posters' views: but I do not sympathise with personal attacks and disrespect, and I think I am rational and open enough to spot the difference between a well-crafted response and a shitty attack regardless of which end of the political spectrum it is coming from. And, in that light, i tell you I see more of that from the right against the left than the other way around.

Of course that might just be a matter of numbers. There seem to be more right-leaning, or centre-right posters overall than left-leaning or centre left posters in this community. Consequently if a similar proportion of each are dickheads, then there will be an imbalance to the right.



[eta] Just for clarity: I raised the left-right aspect of this because Monster asked if I'd have responded the same way had Jill been on the other side of the divide. My view overall is that this is a wider problem than just a left-right spat. This is about how we do politics in the Celllar. It's about people coming here expecting rational discussion and instead facing unpleasant attacks.