Bannings the content is either going to be getting better and better, or it's going to be getting worse and worse. — Jake
No, it doesn't polarize like that. With consistent standards enforced, the content remains of a consistent standard.
If you can't or won't provide your better commentators a space where they can do their thing together what happens is that they will wander off one by one to be replaced by mediocre commentators, a process which tends to feed on itself and accelerate over time. — Jake
This is another thing that hasn't and doesn't happen. Again, consistent enforcement of standards makes the place consistently attractive to those who appreciate those standards.
I picture three sections of a forum.
1) At the lowest level are those banned because they just don't seem worth investing time in. We can debate particular cases, but this seems sound as a general principle.
2) At the middle level is the forum as it currently exists.
3) At the highest level there could be an invitation only section of the forum which serves as a tangible example of what kind of quality content the mods are aiming for. — Jake
This, even if possible, would result in justified accusations of elitism, impossible-to-refute accusations of favouritism, and general dissatisfaction and strife.