This site is pretty tame all up and most of the posters debate or give their opinions without personal insult. But if a poster is of that ilk then they are easy enought to ignore or draw into debate - our own responses are always a personal choice.

Climate change does seem to bring out the passion on both sides. Perhaps the level of personal attacks on this issue goes to the very heart of the confusion and conflicting information about climate change. Each side clinging to the hope that they have made the right call and just in case we will throw around a few insults to the opposition for good measure - good distraction technique.

Sometimes I do wonder why some posters come to OLO - it is an opinion site afterall and some seem to delight only in giving opinions about other posters while rarely addressing the thrux of the conversation.

I often wonder if there are some hoax IDs on OLO to get some robust debate going - particularly the anti-female posts - they are too off the chart at times in terms of bitterness. There does not seem to be too many anti-male posters by contrast so maybe the editors feel that women are more likely to rise to the bait.

Only Graham or SusanP can confirm one way or the other if those sorts of IDs are used.

pelican while I do not think GY or Susan would be behind it you are by no means the only one to often think about some posters.
Mostly we do come to debate, a few .just see posting history, come to insult.
You have the right answer for them.
Mostly it is harmless fun and mostly we do debate.
Climate change? well it remains a heated issue, on both sides extremes are just not believable.
But most agree it may well be happening, it is in my view, the cause is the conflict maker.
my views are talking the issue to death will take place for a long time.