No need to have this happen here, Arty. I don't see this happen!
This board has a strong group of mods ... and as long as a board generally sticks to what it is, like, e.g. a
Photography Forum (now, how did THIS example spring to mind... I wonder!

), where even room is given for "just showing" and "give me critique", and more room for "Off Topic" discussion, things should work themselves out in the course of time. And they should do so in a way that in the end the board or forum is still there!
There's another forum that I go to, which is an author's fanboard, and at quite regular intervalls we go through rougher patches there, too. But that board is quite strictly administered and moderated, too, so all in all nothing happens. The author who runs her own discussion forum sometimes threatens to shut the whole thing down, for it is hers, and she owns it and pays for it, but after 5 years it is still there.

Meanwhile, however, things political, religious or cultur-related are not to be discussed, other than that people may state their opinion for once and that is it. We are all entitled to opinions, of course, but there is no derision, name-calling, persuasion, preaching. Easily observed - plenty of debate forums to be found in the World Wide Web.
Mods: keep up the good work
