Interesting article written by Cory Doctorow.
Seems like just about everyone could take a lesson in this from our little SDMB. What is it that make us, by and large, so troll free? Certainly it’s good moderating, but I’d hardly pin the success solely on censorship.
Maybe this belongs in IMHO, but IMO it’s basically About This Message Board.
Not only is it prompt, appropriate attention from the mods, but I also like to think that when it comes to escorting trolls to the exit in a civilized, intelligent manner, the Dopers are smarter about it than your average bear.
I would even go so far as to speculate the lack of avatars and animated smilies (which I know people do ask for from time to time) create a less attractive atmosphere for trolls.
While true that the mods and admins are good at removing trolls, removing every single hostile jerk from the board would leave the place with a greatly reduced number of members.
No the jerks are here, they are just seen as contributing members of the board so they are left alone.
Well in all seriousness I think that might be true, but then what is it that has prevented the inevitable complete meltdown.
Do we have a Troll Whisperer here? [read the article]
Being a jerk some or all of the time doesn’t make one a troll though. We are all grouchy at times, and our behavior towards others is jerkish. That doesn’t mean we have nothing to contribute to a community though.
Yeah, it is not about getting rid of jerks but, as the title of the OP states, keeping them from taking over. Jerks add colour to the board. Also, jerks can be knowledgeable. Being a jerk doesn’t stop one from being able to fight ignorance. Jerks are people too, let us be.
Charge $15 a year for the privilege of publicizing your idiocy.
I have to say I found that article to be thoroughly lacking in a point- it seemed like the sort of inoffensive bland filler you get in the Weekend Edition of the paper, IMHO.
I do think that keeping the boards low-key helps keep the trolls away, though.
IMO, it’s a combination of all the things listed above. The average Flame Warrior punk isn’t going to pay fifteen bucks to walk into a gunfight with a pocketknife, especially if they can’t post their favorite photoshopped jpeg of Al Sharpton eating watermelon or George Bush dressed like Osama bin Laden.
I think a couple of the mods might qualify, but I’m hesitant to name names. It’s bad enough that they keep score of who gets pitted most. 
Well OK it wasn’t brilliant insight, but it got me thinking and works well as a discussion starter. Also, it was the first time I’d heard of disemvowelling.
I am not a contributing member of the board!
But are you left alone?
Dedicated mods and a number of highly knowledgeable and level-headed posters who collectively set the tone. The Pit helps to provide an outlet for the inevitable angry posting.