As one of the moderators on a subreddit with a tight, strongly enforced civility policy, it really is one of the few things keeping the sub from chaos. So much of political discourse these days is either in echo chambers or has degraded discourse. Sure you can say whatever, but the whatever slowly becomes worth less. We’ve been told by multiple users that the culture our rules foster has made it so that the users have a place to have serious political discussions with a broad range of people in a way that they haven’t in a long time. That’s important because many people have given up on political discussions with people who aren’t like-minded.

Alternatively, I’ll put it this way: it’s possible to thoroughly discuss a political matter without touching personal insults. When there is nothing stopping personal insults, Internet discussions tend to be “won” by the trolliest trolls and the loudest yellers, not the best ideas. The people with the best ideas give up as they get drowned out.