Unfortunately, I don't feel qualified enough to write an article about this, nor to analyze the optimal form of gossip. I don't think I have a solution. I just noticed a danger, and general unwillingness to debate it.

Probably the best thing I can do right now is to recommend good books on this topic. That would be:

• The Mask of Sanity by Hervey M. Cleckley; specifically the 15 examples provided; and
• People of the Lie by M. Scott Peck; this book is not scientific, but is much easier to read

I admit I do have some problems with moderating (specifically, the reddit database is pure horror, so it takes a lot of time to find anything), but my motivation for writing in this thread comes completely from offline life.

As a leader of my local rationalist community, I was wondering about the things that could happen if the community becomes greater and more successful. Like, if something bad happened within the community, I would feel personally responsible for the people I have invited there by visions of rationality and "winning". (And "something bad" offline can be much worse than mere systematic downvoting.) Especially if we would achieve some kind of power in real life, which is what I hope to do one day. I want to do something better than just bring a lot of enthusiastic people to one place and let the fate decide. I trust myself not to start a cult, and not to abuse others, but that itself is no reason for others to trust me; and also, someone else may replace me (rather easily, since I am not good at coalition politics); or someone may do evil things under my roof, without me even noticing. Having a community of highly intelligent people has the risk that the possible sociopaths, if they come, will likely also be highly intelligent. So, I am thinking about what makes a community safe or unsafe. Because if the community grows large enough, sooner or later problems start happening. I would rather be prepared in advance. Trying to solve the problem ad-hoc would probably totally seem like a personal animosity or joining one faction in an internal conflict.