I think that if an outright war is raging in the comments, let it run it’s course. All parties are willing participants, free to disengage at any moment.
The exceptions should be when illegal content is being shared or illegal activity is occurring (CP, doxxing, etc).
It’s always frustrating when a juicy argument gets locked because it’s “unproductive”. I was having a great time watching it unfold, both sides hurling both creative and uncreative insults, oblivious to how low they are sinking to. It’s great!
Upvoted as it’s unpopular even if I heavily disagree with it.
Look at the big picture.
There’s a high chance that whatever is causing that flamewar - be it a specific topic, or user conflicts, or whatever - will pop up again. And again. And again.
You might enjoy watching two muppets shitposting at each other. Frankly? I do it too. (Sometimes I’m even one of the muppets.) However this gets old really fast and, even if you’re emotionally detached of the whole thing, it reaches a point where you roll your eyes and say “fuck, yet another flamewar. I just want to discuss the topic dammit”.
Plenty people however do not; and once you allow flamewars, you’re basically telling them “if you don’t want to see this, fuck off”. Some of those will be people who are emotionally invested enough in your community to actually contribute with it, unlike the passing troll stirring trouble.
Maybe three should be a community specifically for flame wars - a place where senseless squabbles and destructive discord is the norm. It would be a place where people come to fight and see others fight. Think of it as a thunder dome, but for online debates.
We can just start one here.
Hope you step on a lego punk
Hope you find your comma key, pal!
They’re not your pal, buddy!
4chan-in-a-bottle? That would be fun.
Or a song by ACAB!
Removed by mod