I think the fanatisim has more to do with it being an internet forum rather then with being a group of pet rat owners. You tend to see that sort of thing on any forum that is poorly or unfairly moderated. The fanatics tend to shout down and drive away the more moderate members and you're left with a group of extremists. The unfortunate thing is then that when a new member joins, it appears that the extreme attitudes of the group are 'the norm' for the hobby as a whole which is quite often far from the real truth.

Mark