"For some reason, BT has a reputation of attracting heated discussion."
I think there are two reasons for that.
One is that this community has always attracted the finest and best - top notch people from all walks of life - Top guns all.
people who have that striving for excellence and walking on the edge are not the kind of people who sit mildly while ...whatever..they jump in and set to do something.
IMO, that is the kind of people you want - otherwise, call it Sir Hacks-A-Lot homebuilding instead of FHB
So we chaffe each other's edges a bit.
The other reason is that There is too much tolerance of troll behaviour. That are/ have been those who see BT as their own personal ego trip - soap box. They live to start arguments ands that is apparent in the tone of their first post 99% of the time. They rarely poke their heads up in the building threads. I learned to hit the ignore thread button on most of their stuff long time ago.
I see having some decent argues with other builders and what not, but when the only apparent purpose for a member to come to BT is to constantly start arguements, they take away from the purpose and the community. I don't know how to weed them out other than having a mod spend a fair amt of time knowing the ground and the buffalo's stamping on it.
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Excellence is its own reward!