I'm here for the sharing, not the snobery

As one who has recently posted a "controversial" thread I have lurked with this discussion since, for me, is kinda like saying water is wet. Everyone says they want civility when in deed, they want total agreement with their opinion. IMO, This is one of the reasons for this posts’ popularity & mostly lack of division (and Lord knows we need that now!) So, Thanks @erik_squires for your thread.

One of the problem on any forum or discussion is "facts". Everyone is interested in the "FACTS" But facts actually say nothing until their interpretation. There is where the disagreement starts.

I may seem somewhat new here because I haven’t posted that much until recently. But I was pretty active here and AA since I started here in 2000. I’ve seen A’gon change formats, owners and posters. There has always been some sarcasm, banter, etc but it was mostly civil & well intentioned IMO. . And there has always been "troublesome" know it all who is totally dogmatic in his view and cannot agree to disagree. But they were a vast minority and were not encouraged. However now we have had an influx of these types recently.

As in the Bible & most religions, there are commandments and personal convictions. There are some pretty hard and fast rules. But there is personal preference too. I suggest there is far more of the later than the former. When people cannot agree to disagree on these personal preferences, we will have a lack of civility.

@djones51

It’s easy to agree to disagree on personal preference it’s only when some think personal preference are commandments or universal.

BINGO!!! I agree 100%. IMO, The problem lies in writing and reading in our busy world. Both have their problems in communication. I am in no way opposed to test measurements or blind testing. I like Paul McGowan & Hans Beekhuyzen who say it has its place in the mfg process. I agree. But because we do not know each other personally and because its improbable to read every post, its very easy to paint a black & white picture of someone when often we are more nuanced.

@hilde45

I agree with your point about cherry picking. I try not to do it but know of my humanity as well. And then there is the perception of the reader. I'm not PC enough for the modern world. I'm old and my stepfather would be would be 133 yrs old this year.
Regarding cherry picking , I often believe that those who do it a lot probably do not really know any other facts. Its not that they were not exposed to them but rather they chose to forget about them because it didn't fit their world view and/or were too cumbersome. I can relate because I know that truth is often a meddlesome thing which sometimes forces me to accept it or lie to myself which I think even more troublesome