The salt of ET is its unpredictability and generally good level of discussions which is extremely rare even in professionals discussion as far as I know.

Most people here do not post too much but try to present some valuable ideas and information to others - even in ordinary comments, that's why it is not degenerated into banal mud-slinging which is the order of the day in majority of MSM outlets and popular forums like DK.

About "fit in" - I think there's absolutely no need to fit in discussions - we retain our individuality without taking contrary views as personal assaults on our integrity and just move on.

"Frustrated academics, journalists.." - no absolutely. I can speak of myself - my job has almost no relation to what I am writing about. I do not care to press for my ideas - they may be accepted or ignored, whatever.