Do posters intend to hurt the feelings of other members?

@whart I agree about forums having a culture. That's why I mentioned that I believe that culture has to come from the top. That's the owner and the owner's moderating staff.

I have also been a moderator for a very large photography web site. The owners had a primary goal from the outset that it would be a friendly, helpful site. They had many moderators, all of us volunteers, and we clearly understood what their goals were. This created a culture of friendliness and civility that has been ongoing for nearly 20 years now.

Yes, it is a lot of work.

I also participate in a tractor oriented web site that is the nicest most helpful website, not to mention the most useful website on the widest array of topics I've ever been to. It seems to be self moderated for the most part.

On both of these sites trolls pop up but they never stay....or they get the boot.

Luminous Landscape is another photography website that is friendly and helpful. It is a smaller volume site and it is a paid membership. The level of discussion is high. The level of contention and in-civility is near zero and all topics are allowed.

Audiogon is tainted by a small number of members who seem to delight in contention and belittling others. The rest seem very helpful and even the nicest among the helpful folks often get drawn into the bickering of the resident trolls, usually on the same topics. I do too sometimes, but less often  now.

whart

I think every chat board has a "culture" and from what I’ve witnessed over many years on other boards in diverse fields is that someone who comes on blazing is not going to get a positive reception. A little humility goes a long way. This board is far from the worst in my experience- most people seem pretty willing to help ...
Moderation- generally- is almost a last resort. Participants should self-moderate to a degree. When a mod has to step in, things are usually ugly- personal attacks, politics or the like. But, I do agree that once the rules are set, a violation should have consequences, starting with a ’time out.’ ... Tammy does a pretty good job in my estimation.

I agree. For those who think the site would benefit from more stringent moderation, I suggest use of the "Report this" flag, which is quite effective. If it’s not, or you have a larger concern, it’s worth reaching out to Audiogon support using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of the page. I have found them to be very responsive.

Audiogon staff will absolutely give forum violators a temporary suspension or - in extreme cases - ban them entirely. But sometimes they need a little input from us first so that they are aware of what’s happening in the forums.

Look at it a different way. This forum exists to make money. If it clearly lost the site owners money, it would be long gone. So what takes place to make the site owners think it is worth the bother? Number one it attracts customers. Folks who use, or just READ the threads matter. Since when it comes time to buy something used. They will comes to THIS site to buy it, 100% that is the ’bottom line’So ,with that, what makes the forums worth the bother to READ for anyone wandering the web?
Certainly NOT dull as dust drivel. People, particularly passive readers only, want some level of tension, something new, something to remember, but perhaps not fist fights on every page? The readers, (who outnumber the posters) want to read something interesting. When you permanently kick out, or even temporarily, to the point a lot of folks quit and never come back, you loose the folks who are interesting, who are passionate, and who write stuff others want to read!                   
Even almarg needs someone else to post something to comment on! ..So what level of tension is the right amount? IMO it is exactly AS IT IS NOW. To me more moderating would just make the place dull. Many of the interesting folks who actually answer questions,, start silly threads to have arguments, would leave. Then what? The burden falls on a few. and soon all you have are cobwebs, and no readers. Whom, to me, are the juice, the folks who actually make the place work! (for the owners) are all those folks who never post, just read! If it was more violent, too many would become afraid to post, or just hate the place. So the current level is just fine. Like that favorite drinking place, change even one little thing.. Suddenly the place is empty, Everyone went somewhere else. So for the folks who want to change it to some form of ’safe space’?       
you are crazy.  
LOL

 I have to consider my own thin skin posting here or anywhere else. I choose my words for the sake of discussion, not argumentation. I will almost always lose an argument, since I have not been very good at it. Discussion, on the other hand is something that I have an interest in, whether I agree with the other party or not. I can learn, or even judge from statements of feeling rather than fact (whatever that is). This can be a way to try something new, or realize that you might want to avoid new discussion with that party in the future.

@elizabeth if the reason people come here is for the arguments and incivility then you are correct.

I'd like to think they come to discuss hi-fi and music. Maybe I'm wrong.

Kind of reminds me of the Monty Python skit where people come pay to have an argument. If that's what Audiogon is....well....just as stupid as that skit....but without the humor.