A personal comment: These clearly are trying times. Trying for everybody posting or even normally just reading but now being very tempted to post --- and I am amazed and have to admit surprised how civilized the in light of the current events naturally unavoidable discussions here are.

Politics and Religion are always very dangerous themes, as they are such emotional ones, with the worlds of the individuals colliding head on. Resulting in even the calmer ones feeling extremely tempted to yell "Stupid you! Don't you see [insert whatever]? What an Idiot!" and to see (and treat) the one with opposing views as enemy.

I looked for a short while at the US Policy board. Though I couldn't believe what I've seen, all the dirt thrown around to other posters, weak me nevertheless couldn't resist to also throw in a few posts. That's the problem with politics and religion, that they are so highly charged, stirring us up to against better knowledge nevertheless reply to the blind stupid other one. I think that's because in both areas we feel personally attacked when our core view of the world is attacked.

On the Atheists board that's not a problem, as it consists of like-minded people (Atheists), supporting each other´s view, so if accidentally an outsider posts the opposite view that outlier is not a real threat.

But this board potentially could have sunk to the level of the US Policy board. Did not happen, and for me since the last days it´s clear that it will not happen, thanks to it's very different league of posters.

I just realized that even in the recs for my posts the high quality of this board shows: The few times I post something with real substance those posts get recs, while the far more substanceless posts get none --- as it should be.

Thanks for being able to differentiate and to behave civilized.

And a personal thanks to the guy I admire most here, thanks to Manlobbi for not only having made this possible but to a few times having thanked the members for that civility (and therefore subtly reminded on it), which surely helps to keep it up.