In my lifetime I’ve seen the general breakdown of civil discourse. I’m not totally sure it can be proven which side “started it”, but there has been a general trend where now that fringe scientist is not invited to parties anymore, and those ideas are shunned as if they carry evil energy.

As far as forums go, people here often try to keep things civil, serious, and in good faith (shoutout to dang), but IMO there is still that stain of “academic” bullying where the words stay polite, but their coded meaning is nasty and dehumanizing.