I don't know if it is a lack of sleep causing me to mis-interpret this, but you appear to be saying that because 4E is the current edition of D&D, Edition Warring* against it should be permitted.
If I am mis-interpreting it, I do apologize.
* - Note that I am not talking about criticism, but edition warring.
Sorry, mudbunny, I didn't see this earlier.
Whenever there is an inequality of power, there is a disparity between how something looks from either side. In the aforementioned example, is it okay for the dragonborn to complain more than the tieflings? Should it not be permitted? Should the tieflings even care? Should the dragonborn just get over it and accept their lot in life?
From an ethical standpoint, the issue is a lot more grayscale than black & white.
The point, however, was that every post that belongs in the 4e forum that gets posted in General instead can easily appear like a shot across the bow. Similarly, every criticism of 4e can seem like trying to foment an edition war.
Dividing the sides between "us" and "them" is, IMHO, the major factor causing edition wars to rage.
"They" are aggressors. "We" are defenders.
"They" want to cause fights. "We" want our interesting material to be available.
"They" are negative. "We" are positive.
"They" should just call it a day and move on. "We" should stay the course.
IMHO, the reality is that there is very, very little difference between "us" and "them". The first step to resolving the edition wars is to accept that. The second step is to accept that "they" have as much right to post their stuff as "we" do....even if it isn't stuff that is particularly of interest to "us"....indeed, even if it is diametrically opposed to what "we" want.
At that point, you can reinforce commonalities while accepting differences. Who knows? Some folks might even be able to admit that other games might do some things better than their game of choice does (even if they aren't shifting what their game of choice is).....regardless of what their game of choice is.
RC