I'm glad to see some people out there dealing with this problem, given how much I've written about it both here and elsewhere. I don't think that this solution is one that should be arbitrarily enforced, which I think some of its critics are charging it will be, but this is something I'd definitely be interested in implementing here on the .org at least. (Not that I don't already, but I think it would be nice to have a volunary programme like this.)

As much as I think it's disturbing that so many adults feel this weird compulsion to act like fifth-grade bullies online and treat everyone outside of their little clique of bullies like garbage, I also think that the Internet is a big enough place that if these people want to have their own little place online where they can act out in such infantile ways, they should be able to have it. I don't have a problem with that. What I do have a problem with is that so much of the time I will be trying to have an intelligent conversation online with someone, and then all of a sudden one or more other people will interrupt by saying stuff like "U R DUMB" or spouting off a bunch of insults and slurs. Unless the board/forum is moderated by a fairly good team, it then becomes impossible to have any kind of intelligent discussion at all, and whereas in my younger days I wouldn't have a problem joining in on the flamethrowing, these days it's just not worth it for me.

This has kind of been a problem for me lately because on the main messageboard I visit these days, a throwaway comment I made about how I considered Final Fantasy VII to be the greatest video game of all time led someone there to take issue with my statement. However, while I tried to reinforce my statement based on the merits of the game, his debate tactics have by and large consisted of personal attacks on me. Unfortunately, not only has this person now spread out these kinds of attacks beyond the Final Fantasy discussion to other things (namely discussion of this week's Virginia Tech shootings), but now other people are jumping on the bandwagon with the personal attacks against me. Not that I don't expect this kind of behaviour on the Internet these days (especially given the average age of people on this board I'm discussing), but it's still pretty damn disappointing to me when it happens.