I agree with him. I don't necessarily believe that people are coming here less and less, but I do believe that when an article turns into a flame war with its author (status and all that goes with it) starts acting self-righteous when, as Mephisto says, it's just an opinion, that it does scare people off. It's intimidating.
I remember, specifically with the piracy article - it's difficult to even bother writing up a response when you 1) have the admin and 2) the article's author posting their convictions in the thread. And please don't misunderstand me, I don't mean that in a nasty, spiteful, snappish way at all. I just mean that it feels intimidating - as though if you even bother writing up a response, you'll be shot down or end up in a confrontation with two people who have some significant say in the forum... It just feels like you're doomed from the start. I think that kind of thing is not only intimidating to me, but new would-be posters as well...
As a writer, Azimuth's posts are interesting to read and, more often than not, blissfully controversial. But it's difficult just commenting on what everyone else thinks, and what you think in a thread, when anyone whose opinion contradicts hers gets into a snot-nosed fight. I wish tehnihilist was here to give his opinion as well. He's another who feels the same way, and doesn't see the need to post when you can tell from a mile away that you're going to end up in a battle of egos and self-justification...
Disclaimer: No kills me! Or bans me! *runs*.... Please?
