"The author does a good job of pointing out that the success of on-line
forums isn't from protecting it for an educated elite. He understands
that the concept of a hypothetical 'Usenet License' is flawed, as being
well-off or educated is no guarantee that you will be rational,
skeptical, have empathy, or treat others with respect (one important
reason why juries are of 'your peers'). Early Usenet was better behaved
and more productive because the audience was smaller, most people knew
each other, professional reputations were at stake, and even if you were
a closet sociopath, there were constraints on conduct from being an
employee or a student subject to the rules of the organization that was
paying for your access."

https://www.reddit.com/r/ClassicUsenet/comments/14u48de/two_takes_on_the_eternal_september/