> unwashed masses

The unwashed masses are often filthy and malicious (on the internet).

Moderation, of the governance and oversight meaning, is unforunately very necessary to keeping any pool from becoming a cesspit. By some combination of technical, volunteer, and participant effort (membership fee, or service requirement), areas can be kept decent.

Without this, decent and would-be participants are run off by spam, scams, trolls and harrassment, political rants, religious rants, etc.