Self-limiting is actually a good term to describe fluther. Just taking the conservative/liberal ratio into account (as one example of a difference in opinions), I’m not surprised when a conservative user joins, is welcomed cordially, and then ten posts later is lambasted by a slew of liberal users when they post their opinion.
It’s a bit like this or maybe this .
As one of the few conservative members on the site, I know that I enjoy a good verbal tussle. I can’t help it. It makes me laugh, scream, and cry into my pillow at night (figuratively) to hear some of the wacky things that are said. I am tested by it. It forces me to examine every opinion that I have (and a little introspection goes a long way if you ask me).
Sometimes, I find out that the other person is right and I have to swallow my pride and change. Other times I can’t see how I’m wrong, yet I am adamantly disagreed with. It’s all part of the fun and the lesson of life for me.
The other big reason is that there just isn’t another Q&A site like this one. This one is ad-free, intuitive, and aesthetically pleasing. That’s a pretty good package to get for free.
I had more to say but I’ve forgotten during my ramblings. End.