[keep_hope_alive]

I used to mod a popular audio forum (SoundDomain) back in the mid 2000's. We ran a tight ship and it had no banter, no arguments, and also no incorrect information. The mods were technically capable of discerning correct answers (we allowed opinions when the thread called for opinions). The sections were tidy and answers were quick, accurate, and easy to find. It didn't have much traffic as a result. Turns out, even back then (and still today) what gets people coming back to a thread is banter. The forums that won out allowed banter and thus had more traffic.

Look at this thread and the EV Camaro threads, or any other emotionally charged thread and you'll see a ton of action compared to the other legit threads that most just pass by. Simply put, the site runs on ad revenue and thread clicks generate that. Controversial topics generate revenue.