I don't think it's gotten that much testier -- I think maybe there have been fewer folks jumping into testy threads trying to calm them down. I used to think that it was worth my time to do that., but I haven't lately. Maybe some of us who have been around could try to keep the peace (I'm blaming myself here for being less active in trying to calm things down, not anyone else). Sometimes a brief, Rodney-Kingesque "why can't we all get along" from an old timer can be helpful.
I think the expression is, "throw oil on troubled waters..."
Though I think someone beat me to that idea...
