Back then, "rough-and-tumble" had far more to do with genuine disagreements over policy/politics, etc..
Today its less about genuine disagreements over policy/politics and more to do with personal attacks and/or destroying the credibility of ones opponent.
(I've unfortunately found myself guilty of that also, so pointing at myself first before pointing at others.)
It's been going on since I started lurking. I expect there will be personal attacks on my memorial thread when I shuffle off this moral coil. ;)
Who was the lawyer type from Florida that was always threatening to sue freepers?
/johnny