Reply #21: The problem is that a lot of OPs are attacks on large groups of people.

[Lyric]

The rich, the poor, the working class, the middle class, gay people, straight people, bisexuals, transsexuals, women, men, "Obamatons," "Clintonistas," and on and on and on.

I have observed that most of the "personal attacks" are defensive in nature, as a response to obnoxious, judgmental, sanctimonious, and/or deliberately agressive/pushy OPs that target a specific group of people. Frankly, I have NO problem with people defending themselves against crap like that. If you expect civility in replies, then you must ALSO lecture the people who post these insulting, deliberately divisive, holier-than-thou screeds that make people feel like they're being targeted.

THAT is a far larger problem than an understandably angry response.