Discussion or not

Aaaagh!

I help moderate an online forum for young people aged 11-14. Now we do get a few users over that age but the majority fall within. I am getting really frustrated though by their discussions or lack of. They normally, after one or two posts, degenerate into a slanging match, where they just shout past each other and refuse to listen or even debate the issue at hand. IO am becoming more convinced that they don't want a discussion but just a place to sound off - surely they should be blogging and not involved in a forum.

Oh, and if you were wondering the vinegar smell was some going off bananas.