I used to run experiments on the Fool.
For many years I refused to FA anything. I figured I'd let the insults stand as monuments to the skillz of the people making them - bufftrainer, sano, ramsfanray, JDCRex, Nigel (who was one of the nastiest folks on the board), Felix, many others. SandyLeeLee was simultaneously one of the most skilled writers and one of the most virulent political bigots I've ever met.

After my posts started disappearing for even minor infractions and Aruba emailed me, I pointed out to him what he *wasn't* removing. He actually agreed and specifically mentioned at least one poster by name who really ought to have been banned. He actually encouraged me to report their posts.


So I did. After some left winger would let fly with a stream of insults I'd dutifully hit the Report link. Amazingly, nothing ever happened - their posts always stood.

I think in the end the mass conservobanning and the Anything Goes As Long As A left Winger Says It policy ultimately weakened all those people: without the forcing function of checking their language their arguments got weaker and weaker over time until all they had left were just petty insults.

Note that after all the righties were kicked off, after PA was closed, these same people still couldn't help themselves and got the board they'd traveled to (whatever it was, some economics one) closed down.