To be honest I am not sure if the game, or more aptly, the players have changed.
I initially found this game when it was CTTH, created a name, played and left thinking there was great potential ...but was not for me.
Then when I rediscovered the game stroke course had been introduced and the potential was beginning to be realised. When I found it, I did not think I would stay and had to recreate a new name (to this day I can't recall the original user id).
But quiters were around then, abusive players were around then etc....not dissimilar to present.
It took me a while to find the forums, but for years I was the moderator at an aviation website, and to be honest, you get the same there as on here - some petty views, bitching, arguing, and personal attacks and the conspiracy theorists.
The way I look at it, this is a golf game on the net - golfers will show etiquette more often than not, gamers will not show any. Drawing comparisons, the pilots at the aviation site were measured and knowledgeable, the non-pilots were aggressive and disparaging.
That said generally speaking the younger generation are not as well mannered as when I grew up, where respect was always given and expected. I an not damning young uns, as obviously this open depends on their upbringing and morals and I do believe respect should be earned; it is not a given just because of age or status.
I do find it disappointing that some threads, well many, will turn into mud slinging battles, but that is the internet - WGT forums are lightly moderated compared to the site I used to moderate. I believe we have a right to retort if we are attacked, but only if you do it in a civilised way. I find it disappointing that some threads (such as Lets be Honest) have been allowed to be hijacked where a Mods intervention would have kept that as a great post. Now reading through you need to skim through the rubbish.
For me I still play, I have my friends whom are fun, and I will play with then when the time zones collide, Yes like most, some have gone to a better place, some gave up due to the hoops we have to jump through to play this game.
I took a three month break and seldom checked in on the forum, the game is really about playing and having fun (I too am no elite player), playing with friends and making new friendships. If I stop having fun and no longer find it relaxing, then that is when I hang up my clubs. Even in games that crash.....I would have rather started a game with friends than not have started one at all - I enjoy and relish that time. That was mu attitude in the past and still is....