Controversial views are the meat and potatoes of Internet discussion ... they provide a platform around which to express our ideas. But the flip side is that there's a lot of misinformation that gets tossed out there as though it were factual ... and that's the "cockroach in the pudding".
Fortunately, there's enough knowledgeable people on here that it usually gets sorted out. Unfortunately, all too often that involves pages and pages of "t!t-for-tat" back and forth on trivial issues that add no value to the discussion. That's when the discussion loses all value except as a spectator sport (for those who enjoy train wrecks).
In my opinion ... the value that a controversial issue will offer to the new diver is directly proportional to the ability of us "old divers" to discuss them in a rational manner. The purpose of this forum isn't to "score points" ... which too many people seem to want to engage in. Those discussions should take place elsewhere. The rules here should reflect the audience, and a real effort should be made to stay on topic. Otherwise, however controversial or not the topic may be, it won't be of any value to the person who's coming here for information and guidance.
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
