I fear that means that those evaluations we are compelled to make are allowing people

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I agree! 
OTOH it would be high time for readers to get a grip when it comes to flagging posts, as opposed to rating posts. One can alway disagree; flagging a post because one disagrees, even if it is not abusive or borderline obscene, well that is not very "clever". 
Recommendation for doubters of the G&M Civil Comments method: have a try at the CBC News site.