I think the hey day of Forums such as this was before the advent of Facebook, Twitter and suchlike. These forms of social media are even more susceptible to the soundbite, the short sharp insult, all under the cloak of relative anonymity (or you can be as anonymous as you like)
Here, yes, relative anonymity, but at least the moderators can try to ensure some degree of rational argument. Such is not the case on other forms of media.The Comments Section on the UK Tabloids are a case in point. Virtually every news item descends into a slanging match of "numpties", "lefty snowflakes" and "right-wing nutjobs", most pure accusation unbacked by any attempt at evidence or cogent argument. And most have a "Thumbs Up" or a "Thumbs Down" option where the Keyboard Warrior can express their liking - or dislike - of any of the various insults traded.
Relevant to this, the multi account guys - they give it away by rather limited vocabularies - who use their clout to give the various "Thumbs" numerous presses, this to express their ire or approval of the soundbite contained in the post. (This would seem to be a variant of the "more votes for the decent folk" - a view expressed by the amiable but boring Texan in Catch 22 - only this is more "votes for the bast**ds" )
Anyway, I'm waffling as usual.