I know I've only been a member for a little over three years, but here's my observations:
- First, it's a WDW fan site. Just as many of us fans hold Disney to a higher standard (largely because Disney itself set the standard), we like to hold this website and forums to a higher standard than other WDW sites. Steve and the mods do an excellent job of keeping the standards high. Plus, they are wise enough to know that most conflicts will be resolved without their intervention, or die away and be forgotten. After all, debate is good, as long as it remains civil and follows the rules of the forums. Some will not or turn really ugly, and that's when Steve or one of the mods will step in and take action.
-For those who have been around here for any length of time, things seem to happen in cycles. Posts remain calm for awhile, then things get stirred up, calm down a little, get stirred up again, one or two dramatic things happen, the dust settles and then it stays calm for awhile. Eventually the cycle repeats. I imagine this happens a lot with other forums as well, but since I don't bother with other forums, this is a guess on my part. Sometimes when things stay calm for awhile, someone may make the comment about how boring the boards are. I find it refreshing.