FSSL said:
Nobody left because they were frightened. Some left because they could no longer have their way.
If I ran a forum, I would view it as another room in my house for entertaining guest and friends. I would ask those continually abusing my room to leave, but, also entertain the guest & friends and not harass them when they publicly express distress or different views.
These days I view the forum as a real interaction with men and women of faith. So. In short I expect the same respect found in a real room vs this virtual room.
In the past I have been told to mature, respect the forum, grow up, and don't troll more times than I can count. I have been working on that and have placed myself among those I have grown to know online. In a way I have desired to show fruits of repentance of past conduct.
I find it sad when the behavior I was once told to stop is now apparently embraced to some degree.
For me this isn't about a take it or leave it forum where content doesn't matter. I believe every word entered into the forum will count to our Christian conduct that God observes. And, yes, it might be that the forum is for healthy fighting over our differences in doctrine. But, the Love of Christ must abound.
Frighten away is too harsh. I think many just left becasue they were hurt and felt unfairly treated in a room of the admins house. I'd leave a house where the host mocked, made fun of me, and placed the sign "kick me" on my back.
That's my 2 cents worth anyway.
Guess I can just go back to my troll days since that seems okay now.