OP - I agree with every word you say. But the catch is, I agree with every response here (minus any insults, personal attacks, ,etc) too.
When I first received my 1:1 meeting notice late night on Aug 21st, this was the first site I came to. And on Aug 22nd, I followed along as people were let go and eventually when I was let go. It was nice to feel like I wasn't alone in all this. Pretty much that entire week, this website was a decent place where we saw, in real time, what areas were being hit, and people talked about their experience and what they planned to do next.
Then, it turned into the cesspool that you described. I'm pretty sure that most of the people that were directly impacted by SIRP have long since stopped reading these posts or coming to this site entirely. This is the first time I've checked-in in about a week. And I'll likely check back out now that it overrun by mostly people who just want a place to complain and attack others.
But that's the catch. This type of chat / forum is, and has always been, the wild west. And if the masses agree, then that becomes the norm. I do find some irony in the idea that most of the people here that rant and through around hate and attacks, they would laugh at the words 'safe space', but this is their safe space. A place where they can say things without consequence. And anyone who questions or challenges that is quickly overrun. You know that none of these people are sending emails or writing letters to the FoMoCo leadership, or to any newspaper site voicing their feelings. And if they did, they would do so anonymously. They just want a group hug in a safe little echo chamber. And the beauty of the internet is that they're free to do it. I assure you, if there were more people 'not' like them posting regularly, the trolls would have left long ago to find a space where they are more comfortable.
And that should be the key takeaway. If someone is unhappy with what they're reading here - just don't read it - or better still, just don't come back to this forum.
PS, I was going to use the word 'deplorable' just to tick off as many people as possible. And I'm not saying which side of the political divide I land on. I just know that word would have set people off. Then I realized how that would make me just as much of a troll. But I admit that I see some of the humor / enjoyment in some of the troll posts (haha).