Well, I can remember comments about individuals with "opposing viewpoints" that were personal attacks. Sometimes you could read paragraph after paragraph about someone's stupidity, lack of knowledge/research and persistance to post things anyway. "Oh, geez... "such and such" wrote something again! He continues to go on like a blithering idiot even though everyone knows he's a half-witted "this and that" that only posts things to relieve the pressure of his...." on and on and on. I can see where that would stop a newbie from expressing their view.