Prediction Page, (bring your quatloos, gps, and internets, you'll need them.)

[Jasdoif]

I am reaching back into memory, but IIRC Rich seems to have gotten the initial idea for the Snarl from pointless arguments and conflict that happened at some of his RL gaming tables.
I am sure that our most erudite banana has a link. (I am not near my OotS books at the moment).

It's in the commentary for No Cure for the Paladin Blues.

...The story of the Snarl, an unstoppable beast born of petty arguments and squabbles, is kind of an analogy for any kind of Gamer Drama. Lurking beneath the surface in many gaming groups, it threatens to devour the enjoyment you gain from playing roleplaying games. It can cause rifts between friends and eventually cause the gaming group to break up. Later, some of the same people might form a second group with new members, but the Drama still is lurking, threatening to break free if active steps aren't taken to listen and understand one another (that is, to seal the rifts). Deep, huh?