Amp stands- Do they work?

I will keep this post short since it isn't topical. A little over one year ago I began upgrading my audio equipment. Being new to the hobby, and a software engineer, I naturally turned to the internet for help; and various magazines. In that time I have come to discover both the curse and the blessing in this hobby. The blessing is that I've never enjoyed music so much as now. In fact, I listen to music two hours a day on average. Now for the curse. That in nearly every website and magazine "shouting" matches break out on an all too frequent basis. I can't even read a simple thread on amp stands without uncovering such vitriole that most people just plain stop posting. Read the last five days in this thread and you will, hopefully, understand. I have yet to discover this rather ugly habit in my other hobbies (and I hope I never do). I like this hobby. But if I cannot find some sane part in it I am likely to drop it. So, please, post if you having something say but follow the Golden Rule. Sorry that I didn't keep my promise about this post being short.

Carl, I may have misunderstood your post, but it might interest you to know I was born in the late 60's. Whatever happened in that era was neither influenced nor felt by me. Believe it or not I am a Gen-Xer. Aggression and passion are not the same; though they are related. The point of my post was not about removing passion or spirited discussion from this hobby. It was about putting in check the violent language used. Once you resort to name calling you've lost all opportunity to teach; and to learn. That isn't to say that standing up for what you believe is wrong. But you can believe in something quite firmly without denigrating those who disagree. I am quite willing to lose my life for certain things: my wife and my religion. I cannot believe more strongly about them. Do I get emotional and passionate when I discuss these issues? Most definitely. Do I call, those who disagree sissies who deserve nothing better than to be beaten to a pulp? No. Whether or not politness "to a fault" went out in the 19th century is irrelevant to me. If it is right to do, then it is the right thing to do. I too have a point of view. You have only to read, not just the words but the spirit, of my posts to see that. What I have written was done in the spirit of sparking thought about how we treat others. Instead, it may have been perceived as an attack. For that I apologize. But I still believe what I have said to be true.