A number of people have left or taken vacations from FlyerTalk in reaction to the occasional run of shouting that we seem to get ourselves into. As I count some of them among my friends, I tend to see that as a problem.

>>Why don't you guys just give a rest to this nonsense about always trying to regulate this board?

A deliciously ironical question, given the next sentence in the post. :-)

>>This board thrives because the willingness to offer opinions and rebuttals is self-determined.

Moderation does not inhibit free speech; the idea is to moderate grossly personal attacks, and enforce board rules, if any exist. It does not mean that "there are going to be a bunch of rules." It means that whatever rules there are would get enforced by the volunteer moderators, who are in a lot better position to stay up to date on what's being posted than our hosts here.