A thank you to Democratic Underground, and a plea.

[Eleanors38]

244. Visit the Gungeon, an OPEN group BTW, and Paulbots is mild stuff.

IMO, much of the coarsening of the debate stemmed from or perhaps was caused by the inclusion of all-topics-guns in GD, where that was not the case before. Once a narrative of stigma and hate was established -- with no consequence from the Jury System -- the green light was given for everything mean-spirited to be expressed in GD, and as the OP has alluded to, a new dynamic was established.

The Left, what remains of it, is completely frustrated. It is attacked by Democrats, by the MSM, made fun of, has no say at anyones table, and is no longer a viable actor in our politics.

So, we attack each other in an atmosphere where moral condemnation and moral insult is the only way to prove ones bona fides. To use a vulgar made-for-TV anallogy, a lot of folks here want to notch the grips on their Colt 45s.