Which is sad. Have we always been like this? When did this start???
In order of questions
1) No—S1 was quite respectful, though many people had difference of opinions over the villainy of, say, Rumple and Regina. But it was more a philosophical debate, not this nonsense. Because there was very little emphasize on shipping/romance in general so everyone had other things to talk about–like Emma’s hero’s journey, Henry, speculation, magic, ect.
2) Easy. “Tallahassee.” The second the show paralleled Emma with Neal and with Hook, the divide began. You were either TeamNeal or TeamHook. And the gulf just kept growing. By the time we got to The Queen of Hearts (end of SsA) the watershed moment had happened and there was no going back.