However, I do find it interesting that the downward arc of the purported decline and fall of literary quality at BOTF is a nearly perfect inverse match to the upward arc of the intrusive, bandwidth-hogging, obnoxious Fray pop-up and dynamic banner ads.

As with all in life, surely a coincidence.

Not saying one is causative of the other, mind you.

Just sayin'

since somebody has to make this site pay.

I think the literary decline of the Fray, of which BOTF used to be an elite nook, is related to the volume of top-posts by second and third-rate posters who are shamelessly shilling for their candidates and venting their frustrations. We should be thankful they express their anger at the keyboard instead of physically.

I think Slate might easily ration top-posts and the number of alternate nics to contain the tide of mediocrity, but it will never go away completely.

I'm not sure I understand you and the other arugula-eaters who have their panties all in a wad.

You complain about the "declining level of quality of posts", yet all of your tops posts are infantile rants about other posters, some of whom are actually making posts about real topics in the news worthy of discussion. Even if disagree with their conclusions or presentations, pehaps the page would improve if you actually engaged, instead of getting all haughty, smug, and self assured with such stunningly brilliant postulates like " I don't see the point in debating Yosemite Sam" or "How many of you draws a paycheck from the RNC?"

I could care less about the fray. it will be what it will be. the arc of the fray is the exact same arc that happens to people, businesses, communities, and everything else.

The ads, however, are excessively annoying.

so it goes.

Not all, or even a majority of Sarvis' posts are about other posters; he has commented on politics and on the financial/corporate bailouts in an informed way. He never cuts and pastes as do the posters he bitches about.

Posters with conservative views are still welcome here provided they have something original to say and can think on their feet--not simply regurgitate talking points from the neocon media.

The same is true of liberal posters. DallasNE, for example, may lead off with a link, but usually has something to contribute within the thread.