I've seen several posts about DU having "changed," we're "meaner," and certainly filled with "haters."

Mm.

I'm sure it's true, to a degree, but I'm also sure I've seen this before. Many, many, many times. DU is at war with itself. It has done this before, and will do so again. When the wars came before, the place went ballistic on itself and changed because of it; the fireworks motivated some to leave, brought some new people in, and hardened opinions for everyone in between. It's happening again.

My advice is to walk away from the computer for a while; I did not do this myself during a number of previous DU conflicts, and I invariably came to regret it. Barring that, however, simply take it from me: what's happening here right now is an old story oft repeated, albeit with a different headline.

We are what we've always been.