[ZenGum]

Reply to LJ:
Well in that case ....
I sympathize with Mockingbird. If I walked into a real coffee shop where everyone was calling each other rude names and throwing put-downs around, I wouldn't stay long. There is some great humor here and I've learned a thing or two too. But some of the spite threads really suck.
I'm working on a theory that they mostly happen when people are bored. There haven't been too many good new threads in the last few days, and people ended up here.
I don't favor ostracizing people though, except in super-extreme cases. I think the general social criticism is enough to pull most problem-people back into line. This thread illustrates how sniping escalated until it went too far, and prompted criticism from not just the participants but quite a few bystanders as well. I don't think that line will be used in seriousness for a while again. We don't need formal votes - mob disapproval seems to do the trick.