I don't think Bay12 is getting worse, I just think the regulars (me included) are just becoming cranky assholes.
From what I understand you've had a fairly shit time in the recent past, so it's kinda understandable that you'd be cranky.
If I've been cranky (I can't tell. I can't even remember what mood I've been in three days ago) recently, I'd probably have put it down to stress from fookin college. That's out of the way now, though.
Yeah that's what I mean, though. It's not that the newbies are annoying. (well, maybe a little) But it's just that because an average Bay12 member's life tend to be them discovering Bay12forum when they were young and had free time, so as we mature we get more stressed as we get more responsibilities, and our stress cause us to perceive strangers more negatively, whereas the reguars are familiar and you would give them more leeway.
Like, for example, there are a few older members which as much as I like, are kind of a douche. But I don't want to be naming names so I'll go with myself. There are several times I see that people are ignoring my shitty attitude just on the virtue of liking me. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But it causes these unfair judgments where one perceive the quality of the forum to be lowering just because they are more comfortable with familiar things, even though said familiar things aren't no better than the new stuff.
I mean, I may be biased because I like Bay12 for the friendly banter, and the camaraderie, not because we're some weird political book club. If I want that I go to Quora.