To the OP:
It bothers me because many good and informative discussions run the risk of being shut because of silly arguments.
I left another forum site (which I was a member there since 2009) because of constant bickering amongst members. It got to a point where any mention of price of an item bought usually triggered a heated discussion on why the person spent so much of his own money? The bulk of the gear which was discussed was mainly used "vintage" stuff and either came from online auction sites, garage sales, thrift stores, or the curb. There seemed to always be some form of pissing match for really stupid reasons and there was even a special section in the forums where people discussed gear openly but were not allowed to question why someone spent what they did and not allowed to claim "snake oil".
I own all kinds of gear; old, vintage, contemporary, to new and expensive (at least to me, it is. Then again, it's my money).
I like both analog and digital and prefer to pick the better sounding medium from the two, given the choice, and yet I own both the digital and analog versions.
I came here because it seemed like a place where members conducted themselves with respect towards each other, didn't mind what equipment they owned, and actually carried on with civilized dialog. Most importantly, I came here because it looked like the kind of place where nobody asks why you spent $$$$ on an amp.
I don't see many (if any) jealous or envious people in here. It's quite refreshing, actually. As for excessive bickering, yes, there is the odd spat every now and then, but I would say it's quite civil as compared to "the other place".
Cheers!