PS: Guys, lets be nice to Adam. LTB and its subsidiaries have done a lot of good press for Bitshares and we don't want to burn that bridge. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions.
They can't be nice to me because I question what they wish to be true and I don't have time to beat around the bush when I see a problem or have a question. They don't want to answer the question, they want it to stop being asked.
The community defense team is why so few people who aren't true believers bother with this forum. It's why there's now talk of if the forum is even a good place for anybody new because posting questions as a new user are often ridiculed or attacked as trolls or sockpuppets.
Like you said, I actually do some important work for Bitshares in addition to my commenting and provide a platform along with access to the LTB community many of whom after which joined the I3 community. Given that I could stop all that and invest my time and money elsewhere, If they're willing to attack my questions, what kind of user wouldn't they be willing to attack?
So much of what you said here is spot on, about how people resist truth. Thank you Adam for your willingness to speak your mind here.
I do think your generalization of "community defense team" is not completely accurate, tho it is so common in many communities, especially cults. "My team's the best, your's sucks" mentality. We don't need that crap. Let's keep it rational. Nothing wrong with voicing your opinion and support of your team, but keep it in check and open your mind to empirical truth and facts. When you begin to feel emotional consider it a gong to ask yourself why, and then pause before responding. You might like what you write much better.
Where I think you went a bit too far Adam was in using tonyk as your evidence for you "community defense team" argument. He is clearly abrasive, as evidenced by the thread you provided. But as was pointed out above he is just one person. Painting his contributions as indicative of the community's attitude is unfair and as a relative newbie myself have not experienced this group think attack. The community is very supportive and open to newbies and their "dumb" questions. I know, I've asked my share of them.
And like you I'm not afraid to speak my mind here. I'm just not up to the same level of knowledge you and many others are to ask the really tough questions yet. So please, continue!