Your post certainly hit home with me as well, as I have now returned on a casual basis to the finest game ever to rise to the top of our digital cesspool. The important thing to remember is that no matter what game you play or what server you haunt, the frighteningly stupid and ignorant are ALWAYS going to be the vocal majority. The great number of CF players I've encountered so far have been cordial and intense with their RP efforts, fun (if not TOO challenging for an old vet) to fight as well as banter with. However, I don't see many of their names here, nor aliases I would associate with their in-game personalities. Which either means A) it's not them or B) The forum-silent majority are still a fantastic bunch of nerds to kick the digital delusions around with (I include myself, as Nerd Emperor, in that broad epithet).

As far as character assassination in forums, that's exactly why I don't OOC with anyone, I don't visit #dangerroom or any other live discussion base. In immediate chat settings, people are always twitchy. Either trying to play leetsauce oneupsmanship or trash talk player/cabal/race/IMM <insert target of day> and in doing so suck all the fun out of the game. The Immortals enforce RP on CF for more than satisfying their own desires, I believe. If we all had a universal cabal channel for chit-chat while we perma, the game would become one big explore-fest and a few epic bloody pk battles, much like the Implementors playtesting classes and races. Then we'd all chat for a while. Then the hot cocoa, then awkward silences while everyone thinks of excuses to log off. Then the quilting circle watches who leaves together to "perma" out on the slide at the park before sneaking back into their bedroom window.

"Stop chasing shadows, just enjoy the ride."

- Morcheeba. Nuff said.

Hope this helps your enjoyment, if not your perspective.