Yes, i don't want to deny how important blogging can be. I'm just wary that it can very suddenly and (seemingly) inexplicably spill over into misunderstanding and argument.

I think for this reason that people who host conversations on radical topics are entirely justified in moderating comments with an iron fist. It sounds paradoxical that this is necessary to ensure a more free flow of ideas, but status-quo defenders are so much more numerous that they are almost certain to either shout radicals down, or to co-opt and misdirect and misappropriate the conversation, if they are allowed to have free reign. Status-quo defenders have the entire rest of the world to cheer and support them.