I have an idea for preventing squabbling. Let’s rely on the community to monitor its members. When Member1 writes an inappropriate remark about Member2, Member3 will write, “Member1, please stay on topic”, or some other polite request. Only one person would make this request, so there is no ganging up on Member1.
This strategy uses the power of group pressure to keep everyone behaving, knowing any fighting he starts will not be tolerated by the group. Member2, the offended person, trusts that the group is there for him and won’t retaliate, preventing escalating of squabbles.
Social behavior of anonymous internet forums is new to us. We’ve mastered social interactions in kindergarten, work, family, neighborhoods, and pleasant exchanges with other shoppers in the grovery store. We learned social cues and signals, proper responses. We sought to be be nice and polite, so people would like us.
Yet in this anonymous forum, being right often triumphs being nice. We intelligent and otherwise considerate adults are less clear about getting along online.