Ed,
>It's also a matter of knowning that you're there without a safety ney by your own choice. OR rules mean that people are as entitled to an opinion as you are, and there's no fear that speaking their minds would be a breach of etiquette. If your thread gets moved to OR, you needn't follow it there. And if others see something of worth in the smouldering pile of parrot droppings, they're free to pick'em up and play with them.
Sounds like a good way for someone to "win" a debate with me. Just throw around a few insults, get the topic moved, and declare victory if I don't follow the thread into the trash heap. :-)