IMO, the 'net gets nastier every day.  In just about any forum you visit, people resort to name calling and profanity, no matter what the subject.  Part of it may be fallout from the "culture wars" and polarization of society. Part of it may just be that there is a much larger cross section of people online than therw was a few years ago.  I think that the anonymous nature of online communication simply leads people to behave in ways they would never think of in person.  Unfortunately, the reality is that if you post something, you have to assume that it will be stolen, distorted, flamed and defamed.  Absent a miraculous change in human nature, I don't see that changing. 

The only way to get rid of trolls is to go to paid membership.  Few people are going to risk getting banned for trolling if they have to pay for the privilege, but I doubt many of us really want to go that route.

"Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H. L. Mencken