Comes back down, to a certain extent, to the new FD access regulations. Before 911, a great many ATCOs would visit the front office when flying on vacation or whatever. This was one great way to discuss each other's frustrations and address questions regarding procedures etc. Additionally, ATCO fam flights and pilot fam visits were encouraged and often funded by the respective managements. Today, official fam flights are just about still possible, but on a valuable day off and at one's own expense. I fly around 50-60 sectors per year. In the 70s 80s and 90s I probably spent 90% of those sectors on the FD for the entire flight. Since 911 I have completed well over 300 sectors, not a single one of them on the FD. The new generation of ATCOs and pilots simply do not have the same professional and social contact that the previous generation enjoyed. The result is what you often see on these forums, ignorant (and sometimes immature) rants between two sets of highly qualified and trained professionals.