It is a simple fact that no matter what is going on, someone will try and assert that everything is relative and current events are no different than events in the past. I really think it's a knee-jerk reaction for some, for others its a way of quietly shouting down whatever they dont want to hear or dont agree with.
But for others, I think it's a way of just trying to pretend that everything is all right, or will be okay in the end. Kind of a frog-in-the-boiling-water thing.
Also, closing topics has worked great for the former.
Not sure I follow that....?