Rod,
Well, I composed a post in the office, but just as I was hiiting "enter" the fucking network went down. It had said "no one here wants to see you go", but I guess I'd look pretty stupid posting that now.
The rest of what it said was along the lines of..."I think that both sides went a little over the top too, but there is a goodly amount of 'history' here which can not be changed. Whenever you step into an existing 'club', you run the risk of bringing up some 'hot button' subject and all hell breaks loose, and you wonder 'all I asked was a simple little question???'. Every board has them, and some even spill over to other boards ( like yelling "Janelle" in a crowded theater )."
At least you didn't say "Niagra Falls".