[sc00ter]

If a flamewar in the comments can be detected, why not demote the comment thread, rather than (or in addition to[1]) the article?

[1]In addition to because presumably the logic is that the article content is flame-bait.

[riggins]

SWAG: demoting the entire thread is the best way to snuff out the flame war. My personal observation is that part of the motivation for trolling/flame wars is attention seeking ... i.e. you don't have a flame war without an audience.