Some research I'd like someone else to do

[andrewducker]

I'd like someone to look at all the different commenting systems out there, and work out why some of them have a decent proportion of interesting discussion, while some of them are full of pond scum.

And then write up the findings, along with a nice simple checklist for "How to manage the comments on your site if you want good discussion".

Because, frankly, on 95% of the sites out there I avoid reading the comments, because I know it's just not good for my blood pressure.

Comments

[don-fitch.livejournal.com]

Those are important rules/principles, and probably all that are needed.

Personally, I rarely read Comments on anything but Making Light and a few trusted blogs done by people who pretty much follow your suggestions -- the Newspaper & other Mass Media sites' Comment threads I sampled all seemed to be inherently toxic.