This thread has kind of run its course, hasn't it? It died 11/30 and then someone bumped it.

I think it's fair that people have the ability to weigh in on it but it feels like all relevant points that could be said have been. There are always going to be people who disagree on matters on - well, everything.

But, overall, in spite of all our disagreements, I still think we have something good here, something worth defending, something worth being critical on to keep working to improve.

We don't want to become complacent, but we don't want to take what we have for granted either. This is a good place, overall. And I'm constantly reminded of how much this small island feels like home in a sea of other craziness.

But if we don't take the time to make sure it stays that way (or gets better) it will decline.

So while I don't think being open and friendly is a lie. But on the same token it is not a universal truth. People's mileage may vary. Best we can do is do what we can to be the good examples rather than the bad.