Good question, some thoughtful posts.
I agree with much of what Zane posted, and again for the mod point of view.
We are all responsible for our own behaviour, manners and attitude. Respect is given, not taken, politeness counts. There are some posters who are real gents, and well informed yet modest contributors, like Gary A; when I grow up I want to be like him. Apart from the shortness that is.
There's been times I'd rather have let it drop recently, and I don't like being attacked personally any more than anyone else. However, given what I've got out of WIX, I've believed the best I can do is stick with it.
The Mods aren't able to get anyone to behave better than they do; we can only chop off the worst as it shows. We certainly 'aint cops, judges counsellors or your mom and pop to keep anyone on the right path.
I've got a lot out of WIX, which is why I put a fair amount in, and no, I don't like the cheap cracks about 'experts' either. It would sure be a howling desert of interest if it was all non-experts here.
HalB's point about the recent US election is a good one. Again, for the non-US members that's a redoubled detraction, we hear more than enough about it everywhere else, without getting it here. I'm interested in vintage aviation globally, and can just do without the politics, please. That includes the paranoia too. Most of us are in stable democracies, and acting like we are in Zimbabwe or North Korea just shows a lack of proportion. Besides,
I'd vote for the men in black if they would get a few people to shut up. (Joke...)
I was interested that Forgotten Field had had some 'negative' meetings with WIX members. I've been very careful who I aim to meet up with, and because of that, I've made some great friends and many contacts that wouldn't have happened otherwise.
Just one example - without WIX, David and I wouldn't have met up, we wouldn't have got to see cool aircraft in each other's home patch, and our respective partners would also have missed out meeting up, and they've got a lot in common too. So win win, and something that outranks the occasional stupidities.
Me on Davy's patch:
David on my patch:
It's what you make it.