Deb -
You bring up great points. Each person wants to feel like they are respected and valued.
We are in week 4 of 6 in the ethics class forum. I was away Mon-Tue at a funeral so the forums were untouched by me until then. When I logged in on Wednesday I saw some of the most disrespectful language I'd ever seen in there. The way some of the students were referring to points of view on the issue at hand just floored me.
So I almost think the idea of discussing the issues in that class may be impossible now. I made my post, and looked at the issue from all sides, but I do not think I will engage any of the other students on the issues going forward. I am happy to discuss the issues here with you guys, and to be content with that.
I do not think the lack of respect presented in the class forum is something I could "fix", and in the two weeks that are left, it's better just to learn what I can learn and to be content with that.