I think that at the beginning GN was, as some have said or implied, cosier, partly because there were fewer of us, so we felt that we were getting to know each other more quickly, and partly because we didn't have the causes for argument such as the Scottish referendum, the Brexit referendum and Brexit itself. Not to mention Trump and Covid-19...
It's good that we are still attracting a supply of new posters who bring their own personalities to the discussions, and it's a shame that some feel discouraged. Some of us who have been here for the duration just avoid the subjects (and posters) we find infuriating annoying.