In general, would you say the people attracted to your writing are inclined to engage you in flame wars?

I'd be surprised if you said yes but I can't know.

My point is that if we gravitate towards anger forums that's what we'll find. And if we gravitate towards reasoned discourse, that's out there, too.

As an optimist, I think the vitriol will blow over. I'll add that as an optimist, I've been plenty wrong before.