And that's why I shaved my head, grew a handlebar mustache, and am now known as 1880's Pugilist.

If we ever have a Rateitall reunion, everybody has to strip down and release their negative energy in the mud-wrestling ring.  It's the only way to stop the  non-stop bickering about dogfood, reality shows, Elizabeth Hasslerack, and funny buttons.

Update:  

Or we could have a  piggyback race.

Heehee, of course they fight. THIS IS THE INTERNET, is it not? A grand place where we can all be as bold and balsy as we are... not in our daily lives. Damn...

If I had a dollar for ever time I argued about Elizabeth Hasselbeck while wrestling nude in a kiddie pool full of mud.......

Just what the hell do you mean by posting an item like this?  How dare you say something like this, and that goes for all the reviewers who commented on it.  Jeez, get a life you morons.

Not a good reason to leave because it's like a person is pouting. However, I have seen some senseless arguments over differences of opinion.

People here bicker and argue like kids pulling at a toy under the guise and pretense of intellectual discourse. I don't mind strong (very strong) opinions about things, but the petty arguing significantly drags down the credibility of the place.

So far, I've had nothing but productive exchanges with people who think sometimes radically different from me on one issue or another. Compared to the flame wars on some other sites, I find this one relatively mild. And when we haven't agreed, we have at least made the effort to hear each other. I don't find myself being forced to respond to arguments against their own strawmen.

My experience very much mirrors Szinhonshu's. This person was very upset that I disagreed with him on a couple of reviews. He is dishonest and way too sensitive to others disagreeing. He could not admit when he was upset about my earlier disagreements with his posts. This person is pedantic and constantly tries to make the most "anti-politically correct" argument he can make, ostensibly in an attempt to sound original. After my attempt to end our disagreement peacefully by noting an idea that we share, and end an otherwise heated exchange, this person had the hypocrisy to say "go in peace". I suspect the idiot we each encountered was the same person.

Oh geez... some people are way too sensitive. I love arguing with people and get a good chuckle out of it when people do their best to trash me personally, though many of the good flamers have long since left RIA.

I don't come here for an argument...I come here to avoid one.

I've been posting here about 6 months and I can think of only one person who communicated with me directly who was overtly hostile AND rude about things I had posted ... and he's an idiot anyway. Actually, it's largely a strikingly civil, respectful bunch of regulars here. Commonly, when a regular takes strong issue with what I post I receive an exceedingly polite message in my inbox asking for clarification or stating points of opposition.

I'm guilty of jumping in a flame war or two, but some individuals are relentless in their inherent desire to stir up trouble. I just laugh, and scroll on down the page and attempt to avoid the idiocy.

I think most people here on RIA at least try to be mature (and most succeed) in accepting an opposing viewpoint and perceiving comments as discussion rather than an actual argument (which is more than I can say for most places on the 'net). If it escalates into something more heated, I think it's good to take to the Private Messages after a while. As long as this is an opinion site, though, there's going to be differences of opinion; there's bound to be very strong feelings about certain topics, and as long as it's a text-based forum, there's bound to be misunderstandings and misinterpretations (I'm certainly not immune, I got into an argument the other day with someone here that I really respect because I misunderstood his intentions). Sometimes it'll get to the point of an argument. It's just something to be expected.

UPDATE: Recently I have been involved in some discussions (not fights, lol) concerning me as an individual with my credibility and my sincerity being questioned. Others have joined in either asking what was going on or to attack or to defend. I have been told it's wrong to defend and it's wrong to apologize. If I defend then I have thin skin, if I apologize then I have no credibility. I think this is all rather childish and causes me to wonder the motives of a few fellow reviewers. It would be easy to walk away from RIA now but I will not. If I make a mistake or if I feel I have offended someone then I will apologize and if anyone thinks this shows a lack of credibility, then all I can say is... you are wrong. ORIGINAL MESSAGE: Some people and you know who you are, just love to fight. Why? I'm not sure, but I guess this might be just the place for you to get what youre looking for.

I like playful bantering, but I can understand that someone might find it offensive.

Although I don't like fighting, that is their problem and I will not let it spoil my fun. Plus people get over these things. Sometimes, it can be entertaining to watch, unless it becomes personal and insulting.

I love hearing and reading flame wars and fights. It made RIA fun. But now it's not fun anymore. The posts are gone. ... The only time I'll ever get involved in a fight here is if someone says something negative directly or indirectly about me.

Well, when you have such a large number of people posting on here for so long, all with some different type of view point, your bound to get some fighting going on. And I see nothing wrong with passionate debate, but only if it stay's at a mature level (and no, you sux is not mature, lol).

Personally, I think a good flame war, if it doesn't last too long or get completely out of hand - can actually clear the air. Just don't let it degenerate into verbal bird flipping or name calling and try to shake hands in the end. If this is all you want to do, head to DickDirk's war zone and go to town!

It's an opinion website people are going to fight and argue.

Not really. It's natural that in a forum where opinions are exchanged that you'll step on some toes or someone will offer an alternate viewpoint. Some of the flame-wars are actually interesting, even if the participants might be a bit long-winded at times. Most of the time issues are clarified this way at any rate. Most fights start as a result of miscommunication, arguments clarify it sometimes. Other times the differences are too big to bridge. I never let it get it to me unless I'm specifically provoked, which is very rare.

That might very well be true. But, heck. There's fighting everywhere about everything, and not just on RIA. At the present, this is not stopping me from coming here. The only thing I do in this situation is I try not to get myself involved in them. I have found everyone as a general rule to be extremely nice. It goes without saying, opinions are going to differ, and The Opinion Network is the right place for that sort of thing.