Dive, a lot of what you are seeing is due to the net not showing feeling or emotion. This has always been a problem on RCU and every other site. One person asks a question, someone else answers it and the person that asked doesn't like the answer or doesn't agree and fires off a smart alec comment and everyone jumps in to try to make him see why they feel he is wrong or right. Sometimes both parties feel so strongly that they keep trying to make the other see their point, when it isn't going to happen. Words get stronger, feelings get more bent and then feelings fly.
The moron forum you spoke about was a member being frusterated because a lot of members were trying to help someone who obviously didn't want the help, but made a comment about just wanting to toy with the people helping.
I have seen it many times on here and everywhere else. Unfortunately, I got too involved in a couple of those threads because I felt the system being discussed is dangerous and wouldn't take much to fix.
Have fun on the boards. They are usually pretty good. All you can do is enjoy yourself, try to help the people you can and go on.