Moderation isn't something that one could really escape from even about 20 years ago, just now we're more cognizant of the effects of poor moderation and users are more aware of how people behave when moderators/admins are pushed to the boundaries of the set rules.
Now, look at facebook. Billions of users. No constrained vision or purpose to being there; if you're human, you're a customer, and human behavior can be pretty gross at the fringes. And maybe most importantly; they can't just Ban whatever people or content they want, due to both a profit motive and public outrage due to their preeminent position.
This isn't a problem that has already existed, because the problem is with the Scale, not with the Behavior.
No. If you're human, you're a product. Can't have the product spoiled, now, can we?
It is a big contrast as far as I think what folks thought in the early days of user content.
Now, if even the most milquetoast comment which could possible be offensive if I assume the absolute worst about the poster, isn't moderated post-hate, you'll be reported to the media who will almost certainly archive it and use it to fill the next 1 - 24 hours of their outrage media cycle. I honestly see a future where people file lawsuits against web sites for not moderating enough, a failure to keep safe or sort of negligence. "Your web site gave me PTSD or enabled cyber-bulling". What's worst, they'll win.
I agree with the second part of that. Not necessarily the first.
Viewing the past through the lens of the present is always going to be a different exercise than viewing the present through the lens of the present.
Unfortunately, we live in a culture of intolerance. A few months ago there was a race car driver who lost his sponsorship because of something his father said before the driver was even born.
This is quite the theory - do you have more backing other than the single instance you've just quoted? And what is "intolerance" and why is this "bad"?
Would you believe me if I told you "we live in the greatest age of free speech in human history - our societies are more tolerant than ever before?" No? Well, I've given as much argument as you, so I suppose we are at an impasse.
Example: The 1985 Dire Straits song "Money for Nothing" is shortened when played on radio in Canada, and on non-rock stations on Sirius Satellite Radio because it has a verse that is now considered unacceptable.
Example: In the 1990's sit-com Frasier, it was mentioned at least once that people were being referred to psychological counseling for homosexuality.