Are people being combative and unsupportive on this site?

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Sometimes people are unsupportive. If someone were to make a thread and complain about a issue they had and they were in the wrong and not the other person, I wouldn't even hesitate to tell them. Even if they ask a honest question if they were out of line or in the wrong or whatever I would still tell them.

I think the problem is that if you want support, you have to go about things in a certain way. I think people often want support, but they don't know how to ask, and they come in with a closed, rigid position, making statements, or positing a theory, which can lead to arguments and discord. Instead, it would probably be better to say something like; hey, I need some help, here's my problem, what the deuce?

It's totally understandable, considering the way that we are. I'm not good at asking for help.

Its complicated indeed.

You may find sycophantic friends being supportive and harming their friend with unthinking kindness, or unsupportive people galvanising the other to improve with derision.

Sometimes through a wound comes the healing

We're humans we fight. Some of us more than others but it's in our nature. I am a defensive fighter and won't argue with the fact that I do fight on here. I also enjoy (physical as well as other forms of) fighting in real life. I don't think fighting is inherently "evil" especially if done in as civil of manner as possible with the right intentions.

It has been getting a smidge worse lately. Tis just how I feel. OP, let me know what you find out there.

I agree. Cranking out unqualified approval for the thoughts and behaviour of others is not the highest level of friendship. Challenge can be very difficult for the uninitiated, but I believe that a truly good friend will tell you if they think you're about to make a serious mistake. Indeed, the power of a group is largely in their ability to correct each other's ideas, otherwise it's just a set of individuals shooting in the dark.

the ancient chinese had a curse for their foes, "may your descendants live in interesting times."

At the risk of being combative , it's quite likely that that isn't a Chinese curse at all - it's probably from an English or American attempting to sound Chinese.

well, as i live and breathe, i manage to encounter people here on WP who teach me something new just about every day

"One theory is that it may be related to the Chinese proverb, 'It's better to be a dog in a peaceful time than be a man in a chaotic period' (pinyin: níng wéi tàipíng quǎn, bù zuò luànshì rén)."

the quoted sentence above seems to live in the approximate obverse neighborhood of the phrase "may your descendants live in interesting times."

Am I missing something, here?

I don't know cockney. I to think some people expect essay skills out of WP posters.

Yes, I think a lot of people are. Everyone should just be like me.

gosh, that is an awfully tall order- would you consider settling for just everybody liking you?

i try to help out when i have specific information to give. i try to be supportive when someone is having a tough time just existing. i try to add humor when possible.

i'm ready to argue/rant when certain things happen. if someone makes fun of animal abuse, i'll jump in hard. if someone is being a bully of sorts to someone who obviously can't defend themselves, i'll get in the middle of it.

anyone who has read what i've written in the past will know why the above is my standard.

if i get kicked off w.p., well, so be it. i will never back down from what i believe in.

are there people on w.p. that i 'hate'? yes, 4 or 5. are there people on w.p. i truly like? yes, dozens. are there people on w.p. i want to protect? yes, a few.

combat? hell yeah, if it's needed. support? hell yeah, when it's needed.

you want everybody to be kissy-face all the time? go to the kiddie sites. or get rid of me.

Maybe just take a break and come back in a bit? Since you're averaging about 13 posts a day since joining, it might just be that the site is getting a little stale.

And I do wish you'd had a poll choice along the lines of "about the same as always," since that's how this place strikes me now and when I first joined.