1. Why would you hope for that, Rob? There'ld be no point for discussing anything. It would be a very boring conversation.
2. And as for these types of heated exchanges damaging relationships among photographers here, I don't see that happening at all especially since it's a relationship similar to pen pals. No one is buying anyone here a beer, helping anyone re-shingle their roof, babysitting their grandkids, etc.
3. I guess it depends on what is considered a relationship. I find these exchanges more interesting than what I see of people in my local town who most of the time are staring at their cellphones. "Pokeman, GO!"
1. Agreement doesn't only mean identical thinking on everything (in which case I'd agree with your view - there wouldn't even be need to write); it can also stretch to interchanging ideas, and opinions, with agreeable people which some few here turn out not to be.
2. I refer, of course, to the relationships online, here on LuLa: there are those I think of as interesting and with whom I'd be perfectly happy to spend time; others whose opinions are valuable on things technical; some few whose photography inspires a lot of respect and that, of itself, predisposes my feelings towards them; there are yet others I wouldn't want to meet anywhere.
3. I have said pretty much the same thing about groups sitting around in restauarants, heads bowed to the cellphone god at the cost of the physical possibilites beside them. Of course, it might be that the real people are not actually ever connecting, and certainly not as interesting as the virtual ones...
But ironically, is what they do any more absurd than conversing on Lula?
Best not go there too deply!
Rob