[jacmac1]

It seems to happen enough that I think it's a relevant question.

Someone asks a question or proposes and idea. Some other's chime in. Some people get offended. Still other's sense offense.
The ability to read a person's face or tone or demeanor is unavailable. The ease of a "quick reply" has people responding quickly, rather than asking for clarification.
Still other's jump in the middle of the conversation w/o reading all the threads. Misunderstandings start to pop up. People trip over each other to explain themselves over and over again.
There are still others who don't want to really understand another's point of view but simply who just want to be heard -- to just have the say.

Conversations can become polarized, as some people chime in to take sides.

Sometimes it seems the whole meaning of the thread is lost. People become frustrated.

When conversations deteriate to this I just don't want to participate anymore because it seems pointless.

Now, in a small way this is a part of life, but it seems that in on-line forums this can happen in a nano-second.

I've certainly participated in conversations where there are heated exchanges and emotions run high and this DOES NOT HAPPEN- that is due, in large part, I believe to the willingness of the participants to try and understand where another person is coming from, their open-mindedness and how big their egos are (and probably some other things I'm not thinking of here). Being non-judgmental is key.

I love a good debate, but sometimes the back and forth in on-line forums is just bickering.

Any thoughts?