As I said, I don't have a solution. I too know how these forums work and my experiences with them are similar to your statement, that forums, and most social media these days, are populated by misfits.
But for discussion sake, my post was just my observations, and specifically of this thread, of how the conversation had shifted to name calling and childish behavior.
The fact that someone disagrees with another's position on any idea, event, or just thought doesn't mean they need to demean them. Call that what you will, but politeness isn't really evident on this thread.
Perhaps if that changed then the discussion might get back on track but that's again just another thought.