I think it reflects a worldwide malady – the inability to accept another’s viewpoint. Here, you are exposed to a far wider set of people than you would meet in a typical Sunday stroll around the lake, hence more disagreement.
Personally, I cannot understand the strange desire to convince someone to believe as I do. I would much rather be told that my ‘argument has validity’, than ‘you’re right, you’re right, I’m changing orientation NOW’