Perhaps I misunderstood what ArisKatsaris was saying. I thought he meant something like this:

Dictators in countries tend to make living conditions in those countries less desirable. Dictators in forums tend to make posting in those forums (and/or reading them) more desirable.

If this is true, your objection is somewhat tangential to the topic (though an empty forum is less desirable than an active one). But perhaps he meant something else ?