I'm disappointed you feel that way, CM. I've always liked having you around, and if you do decide in the end to quit posting, then you will be missed. Beyond your concerns, which I'm not dismissing, am I correct (i've read your message like 6 times) in thinking that you hope others will follow suit and stop posting in these forums? If that is the case, I'd say I overestimated you.
What would you have us do? Get rid of the off topic forums? Quit doing the draft? People are going to disagree, and sometimes hypersensitive people will take it personally. Then they'll attack back because they feel they're being unfairly attacked..then the original offending party will attack back..and on and on..
Its the vicious circle of the internet. Every forum every where has these problems. As mods, its our job to take care of these things.
I know I spend like 4-6 hours on here, reading posts, talking about stuff, posting (not as much as I'd like), and generally busting my butt to make sure that the drama you're talking about doesn't get out of control. I'm not alone either. There is a whole staff, an unpaid staff, motivated only by the sense of community and friendship this place, this team, this environment mods before me have created.
If you do decide to stop posting, I'm sorry. We love having you around, you're a funny insightful guy. But I won't stop, and I hope others don't either, because I freakin love this place, and I freakin love you guys (profanity rules sometimes limit my expressions), and I wouldn't trade this place for the world. You say we've lost our way, I counter we're trying to find our way in an increasingly hostile internet landscape, and I'm proud of the job we've done and continue to do.