Jaa, interesting thoughts so far! Something I’ve seen work in other forums is when people use “I feel” statements instead of blaming ones—like, “I feel frustrated when…” instead of “You always…”. Sounds like soft stuff, but it totally changes the tone and some folks actually reflect for a sec before snapping back. Maybe it's a bit touchy-feely, but sometimes that's what diffuses the forum bombs. 😅
Also, k.A. if this is weird, but what about having “neutral peacemakers” in a thread? Like, regular users (not just mods) who jump in just to keep the convo grounded and maybe sum up both sides? Has anyone ever seen that in action, or think that would just add more chaos? Would love to hear if you think self-moderation actually works, or if it’s just wishful thinking…