Agree. And deleting the thread appears to be the best approach, as most mods don't take the trouble to analyze who says what. A person will post something that appears innocuous, but someone will take great offense and launch a vitriolic attack. The OP will respond in a rational fashion, but the unperceptive mod will excoriate both of them for instigating a flame war, although one of them is merely trying to defuse things. So I like your approach.

You would think that those of us who have reached this advanced age have seen enough and been thru enough that a certain amount of maturity and objectivity would become evident. But then I think back to when I was 19, and it was clear to me then that older people were just too set in their ways, too self-righteous, and were incapable of thinking outside their own comfort zone, so I just blew them off as being ignorant.

I think that truly wise people are those who know they still have a lot to learn, regardless of how old they are. And one thing I have learned is that the aggressive approach, berating people who hold different or opposing views, only hardens their position. This is why it does no good to yell at idiot motorists who have done something stupid and have nearly killed you. They will NEVER admit that it was their fault. All it will do is to escalate a cycle of belligerent behavior.

And although I am not a religious person, I think Jesus had something when he admonished his followers to "turn the other cheek." He wanted to dsrupt the cycle of violence, where each side is intent on getting even with the other for offenses that occurred hundreds of years ago. It's really hard to not want to get even, even harder than engaging in some form of conflict, but sometimes you have to take the more difficult approach if you want to accomplish anything.

Anyway, sorry for rambling. Just formulating some incomplete/inconclusive thoughts.

Luis