I think you're probably right because there are more and more threads I avoid for that reason. Moderation should be swift and severe.
But what precisely constitutes talking about members and what messages seems to confuse a great many. Some just cannot see the difference.
We have rules, we have mods as a team who interpret and apply the rules, what we lack, I think, is good communication between mods and members, good feedback on reports, better response to challenges to mod actions. All that would help the membership better understand what's expected of them. --Not saying it's bed, just that it could improve and the forum improve thereby.