I think Roger's software is one of the most 'socially aware' examples of social software I've seen, and not because it uses lightspeed technology, or AI, or even RDF (horrors!). It's because he's done something I've seen few other social software people do -- look and listen to the people who are going to use it.

The specific feature that triggered her post was the ability of moderators in the system to move a hotly debated thread into a "Hot Issues" section, thereby allowing the debate to continue without forcing other users into the fray. She quotes Roger's explanation of this feature:

I don't believe in fighting flames with deletion, moderation, or banning. If you've got a capable forum app, you don't need that kind of thing. My approach is to watch a discussion, and when it gets heated, snip off the relevant thread and move it to a "Hot Issues" section where it can proceed unabated. Arguments may get silly at times, but trying to actively stifle them just keeps things simmering forever. I'm a "get it out and over with" person.

The system itself is quite intriguing, blending aspects of many current social software modalities--discussion forums, weblogs, wikis, content syndication, and even promises of simplified trackback. Sound like Roger is indeed paying attention to the needs of users, and I look forward to seeing where the system goes.