The behavior on this thread really does astound me. In fact, its why I have finally signed up for an account here after more than a year and a half of lurking and avoiding it. I even waited out the newbie period for it.
Attitude, behavior, communication skills are often key factors in financial success, if you don't have those under control then you would naturally look for other ways to make a buck. Mining could well attract some of the group that are week in those skills, and explain some of the things you observed here. Probably no different than the many of the people attracted to gold mining in the past.