It's too peopley around here... That's why... Too peopley.

I think the hostility is something that's becoming more apparent. One of my hobbies is trolling ignorant Facebook posts. No wait, it's fun, lol. I don't ever attack, but keep posting actual references and facts to combat their ignorance, whilst imploring them to educate themselves.
But I'm telling you, the fights get so vicious between commenters I think they actually forget what they were commenting on in the first place! One commenter actually private messaged my daughter, calling her a cunt after a heated discussion on 911 operators. I'm thinking there may be something wrong with you if you have to go to those lengths....

I think it was the same when I came on in Dec. ‘17. I believe a lot of the misunderstanding is found in what mood a person is in and certainly if he/she is on edge about the idea discussed. We may at first read into a post’s message, something out of our own minds. It may have some of the words that we previously heard attacking our ideas, so our brain skips ahead and connects with an emotion that was with the original attack! It sure happened to me, when I first came on here. I have settled down and have a pretty good grip on how to explain myself and when that doesn’t work I block (have blocked only a few), but I have no time to try and work out attacks on me personally.

I have found that the people who do "attack" are often right wing. I think they do it out of fear. Afraid of whatever little they have it will be taken away from them. They cannot understand that out there is a world that can and is functioning on a social democratic level, that is just incomprehensible for them and they have a need to attack. Most of these people do not have a photo on the site of themselves they also "hide" behind a pseudonym.

For the most part I find this site to be safe and respectful; even if people disagree, there's usually open discourse. There are some people though who seem to equate the term "free speech" with saying anything and everything without regard to being mean or hurtful -- if that was the case, then school bullies and verbal abusers are absolutely in their right because of "free speech." In defense they say, "block or ignore" but it doesn't make for better open dialogue and sharing. I know they've always been here, but maybe they're getting more emboldened.

I all my years on this vital industry of Atheism I learned one thing:
All that unite us is a disbelief in divinities, any other assumption will prove itself wrong very fast.
When there is no cosmic nany telling us what to belief, follow and how to behave, diversity arrises and it is beautiful. It is a pitty that this diversity is not always followed by tolerance or acceptance.

I think as this site has been marketed to a wider audience and become somewhat more mainstream, it's necessarily taken on the traits the internet at large. People in general care more about proving they're right than having deep, civil conversations — and we now see more of that playing out here. I agree that it didn't start out like that, with a few exceptions, but I think the growth of the site coupled with the group fragmentation has people swinging from their own corners and a lot of the members just don't care to see things from anyone else's perspective. With that said, I do still see plenty of courteous disagreement that doesn't devolve into personal attacks worthy of Reddit.

Message boards can be difficult, often much is lost in translation.

There have always been uncivil and aggressive right wing reactionaries on this site, as well as angry anti-theists (not just atheists). If you did not encounter them a year ago, you were lucky.

I mostly notice respectful discourse, people willing to consider other points of view, and even apologetic at times.

Being so new I cannot make a judgement call one way or the other at it pertains to the character of this site. But I can speak to the central message of the post. I have found that a lot of the time (certainly not all) disagreements are rooted in being right rather than seeking truth. We place subject matters in the center of the proverbial table and begin a discussion. Before too long the subject matter is moved to the side and the full-frontal attacks spew forth at individuals. The overwhelming need to be right takes control and any chance at gaining insight or enlightenment is lost.

I've been here about a year and a half. I get attacked sometimes because others do not understand what I am saying, but these things can be worked out in discussion. Once politics enter the picture it all changes into "Bizarro World." Since our last election I have come to find that I live in Bizarro World and I really do not like it.

As for anything to do with an absence of god belief I can affirm that I do not believe in anything supernatural. Without evidence neither should you.

The ad hominem attacks are the only thing that lead me to block someone. It is a shame people don't seem inclined to disagree with civility, preferring to hurl insults instead.

With you all the way. Lots of ad hominem assaults now instead of discussion and debate from quite a few quarters.

Probably best not to engage as you know what is said about empty vessels!

We went through a similar period about a year ago, when several long-term users of the site decided to depart for pastures new. It's a shame, but I think it's unavoidable in any social group - there are always going to be people who clash and, in some cases, there'll come a time when they can no longer keep it bottled up. Sometimes they just block one another and no harm is done; other times it starts a wildfire and either one or both of them, plus sometimes people who were involved in the row, take the decision to leave the group. It's a pity, but it happens.

The population has definitely changed.

The talent of expressing a differing opinion without being vindictive erodes proportionately with one's anonymity. Then it is natural to respond in kind.
I don't think I qualify in a couple of your criteria. My formal education is the minimum required. There are issues I lean right on. But I can count on one hand the number of spates that I have encountered.
Is it because I'm non-confrontational?
Is it because I am largely ignored by would-be opponents?
I dunno.

The only change I've noticed is an increase in posts about God and religion. As an atheist since age 13, I'm not interested in religion.

Trumpers personally attacked me for being a Democrat. Insulting members is against community guidelines. So far, I blocked 87 people; only two are women.

I began posting and participating in February 2018.

When I joined the numbers were in the low thousands. Now it is over 100,000. Thusly the agnostic cretins have arrived.

I'm having the free speech issue back on FB with a mixed crowd. (Silly me). One more person calls me stupid or a Libtard and the banhammer is coming out.

That's not what free speech is meant to be about. (Right Snowflakes?)

It's more about being able to talk about almost anything - not spewing vitriol on each other's heads. Civility is a must.

I wish more people shared that view. But we have a small group here that thinks saying anything goes. They haven't been proven wrong either.
They have a bad day - everyone does.

Use the block feature liberally with them. They don't improve with second or third chances.

And wouldn't you think Atheists would have some shared Humanist interests? Not so.

Granted by the time we reach this - Social Media - we may be burnt out from our days elsewhere - does it mean we have to turn into assholes? I never thought so.

Some folks think it's a free pass. I still don't. I'd rather block someone than descend into name calling though.

You aren't wrong in your observations. It does happen regularly. You may find a liberal application of the block feature helpful.

It works on FB - perhaps it would work here. It took me over a year to realize I needed to employ it. I do use it now. Both personally and in groups.

If people are going to take nasty swipes they don't get second chances. No one needs that in their life.

I honestly have not noticed an over abundance of high school level drama. It seems no more or less prevalent than in any of the groups of humans I’m involved with.