I think respect, as our friend above said, is the key here. Unfortunately, respect is something that is disappearing rapidly in society and this is what many of the older people(with a few younger exceptions I have seen on here) find difficult.
I have an 11 year old daughter and I love her dearly and have tried to batter....ahem....teach respect and courtesy to her and her little sister since they were little. UNfortunately, the way kids are nowadays (And by kids I also mean the generation of parents who are under 30 also.....) respect, courtesy, manners et al just do not matter.
It is infuriating for those of us who believe in a certain way of conducting oneself but these guys, generally don't see what they are doing wrong.
I am NOT standing up for these guys and many of you know I got 'stuck in' a few months back in a thread with another 'troll' but they are what they are and no amount of pep talks and friendly nudges will make any difference.
I have been really sad to see some guys leave here due to ignorant people and am delighted Martian is staying and really hope that tbasszone stays too.

I 'float' in and out of this forum. I started back when I found myself caring for my dying mother and, although I am a guitarist and tech, I found the general cameradery on here an amazing tonic for the soul while I was in a dark place. CHewing the fat with guys that have amazing abilities, wonderful ideas and inspirational stories helped me so much and after my Mum died, I was on here constantly for about six months as I considered the 'faceless' characters behind funny avatars to be my friends and it was easier for me at the time to communiacate through this forum than deal with people face to face at the time.
I am not here nearly as often as I would like now but still get a warm welcome when I come back and get angry when I see new people hurting/offending/insulting the people that helped me through the darkest of times.

I suppose what I am saying is that although this is an open forum, there is a 'family' feel to it(for me anyway) and wwhen people 'invade' our sensibilities and rock how we like to work the forum it does get our hackles up and we get defensive. THis, I suppose , is where new folks can get upset and start comparing this forum to other, less courteous, forums. I know that over the last few days there have been posts that if you had come on here for the first time and straight into certain threads, there will unfortunately be some of the 'old-timers' coming across as rude, impatient and hostile. Most or many of us will know the reasons for the comments posted and understand this but there will also be many who see this as their first experience of the Fender forum. Do you see what I mean?

In the end, yes there are a few twats on here, but I will stand now and beg all the guys not to go because, my experience on here and the respect, care, camaradery and fun I have been shown in times of pain, loss and desperation outweighs any negativity felt towards ill-advised, immature and mis-guided ignorant fools. I will stand at the front of the ass-whoop cue when those I respect as much as I do feel there is no choice but to leave.........rant rave grrrrr mumble spit shout fight kick bite sliver

Let's all try and respect each other.....until respect no longer works and the hairy drummer needs let off his leash..........