martinibuster - 7:11 pm on Mar 4, 2013 (gmt 0)

...the assumption that unfettered hostility is generally a bad thing.

I agree with you 10,000% that it is generally a bad thing.

However, leaving aside our personal opinions and preferences, the article does not reach the same conclusion as put forth in the title. Sadly, as far as I have encountered, highly popular forums regardless of topics are minimally moderated.

As for a forum about politics itself, is it possible to host a highly popular and civil forum about that topic AND be about both sides, right and left? Does one currently exist?