It's clear that the number of people here has plunged and stayed low. One of the groups I'm in with a thousand members has only had one post in the last half year, and that tells you that most of those people are no longer active here. That leave a higher proportion of people with agendas which they want to push, which is why you see more of the extreme right and left wing fascists and genocide deniers promoting their hate as peace.

The extreme right has been here since the beginning but it seems to have gotten worse. This is a reflection of the extremism of politics (mostly conservative). A certain orange POS has led the change and I often ask myself where would we be with this convicted felon. It might still be here but not the extreme it is now. Still, you won't find the low thinkers (I term them as the illiterati) on groups as philosophy. LOL, got a thought and looked up the word (I thought I had invented it) and there is actually a game called the Illiterati.

First of all, I see nothing wrong with sharing posts that are light and amusing. There is, after all, a need for that in this troubled world. I am a staunch liberal, and I personally have not noticed an excess of "extreme right wing ideology". Quite the contrary.

This is, after all, a site to exchange ideas and philosophies. We don't all have to agree. When users begin judging which topics are acceptable and which aren't, then you are defeating the very objective of the site, which is that "We want to be defined by principles, not what we don't believe" -- religious political, and otherwise. I agree that it is important to keep a respectful tone, and there is some deviation from that, but we always have the option of blocking those we don't want to hear from and it is the admin's responsibility to decided which posts are acceptable to this site and which aren't.

In general, I find the site to be informative and engaging, except for the occasional rancor of some posts, case in point, this one. We may not always agree, but we can disagree and discuss the matter respectfully, or choose to ignore a post or block the poster.

Well now my feelings are hurt. And I thought we were friends, Scott.  I'm not sure I will be able to get over this. I hope you all understand if I just,,, you know,,, DON'T GIVE A SHIT WHAT YOU THINK THERE SCOTTY .  

Yes but it can change again. And you can block people who post things that are unprofitable.

When I first joined I thought that I would never block anyone, because I wanted to hear alternate opinion, but now I am coming to think that it may be good to use the block feature, not because some opinions are too extreme, but just because they are boring. Bring better things to the front.

This site is a sad state. I joined hoping for discussions on several topics that interest me. I started five groups with that in mind. My groups are still out here, I use them when ever I can, but discussion is one thing no one seems to be interested in. Little wonder there is so much repetitious negativity posted, it seems that is the only thing consumed.
Aside from the serial posters of negativity, the naysayers, so often called free thinkers, bandy about misinformation and conspiratory theorist as a very effective weapon to kill any discussion.
We are all individuals who see the world around us a little differently from each other, this makes discussions and exchanging views so valuable.
Unfortunately, the censors and the worst of national and global politics have won over this site.
I yearn for honest discussion knowing there will be posts for which I thoroughly disagree, but as everyones opinion is just as valid as mine. I have no right to censor or belittle anyone.
This site is far from perfect, WE made it what it is WE have shaped it as it is today..

When people can be incognito they sometimes become horrible. I find that there are still nice people here, who are happy to listen and try to help.

I feel the same. The site also reflects a lot of the modern toxic American discourse.

I also dislike the flood of picture posts which are nothing more than cheap posting.

Your last 2 sentences hit it all just right. I either ignore them or give a short satirical answer. As for religions, they have no evidence. How can I debate a religion with someone when we all know it was men who taught us about religion?

As for this site being abandoned by admin and many of the right wing political nuts, it might be true. I was led to believe the original idea for this site was to get a strong right wing following. It seems the Don and Christian Nationalists have taken that into another level. No Agnostic or Atheist Nationalists to be seen here.

I'm alway open to any sides or point of view. No enemies, not against anyone, it's Yin/yang here.

Although if anyone gose pass my red line, BS detector, they will be ignored.

I find a majority of the posters here to be thoughtful, insightful, and genuinely funny.

But then there’s @FrayedBear, @captfeelgood and a few others who aren’t.

I am unsure. My open contempt for aggressive imbeciles seems to have resulted in them either blocking me or leaving me alone. It may also have something to do with the sorts of groups that I have joined. See also @Flyingsaucesir's comment.

Honestly Walt, I don't know what you are talking about. Admittedly, I don't know what is going on in the various groups; I stick to the general page that is open to all. Here, most of the right-wing nuts seem to have largely disappeared. Or is there something I'm missing? Have they merely blocked me, and I just don't know it?

That is partly because @Admin grew tired of us and abandoned us for other pursuits. And partly because everything changes. Stick around, it will change again. More that it evolves.