So much of moderation is subjective.
I've seen mods come down harder on one side of an argument than another (and not just on this site). That's kind of what you get with human nature.
I've seen mods 'troll' a troll. They leave a demeaning response and then use the predictable 'back-talk' as grounds to issue a suspension/ban. On one hand - it's kind of funny. On another hand, it's somewhat underhanded. It's my personal belief that no mod participating in a discussion should be allowed to issue citations/infractions within that conversation. If you post in a conversation like a user - then you forefeit your moderating authority.
That's my philosophy - that doesn't mean it stacks up against how sites actually do things.
That said... there is a distinction between a discussion/debate where someone is laying out his/her ideas, and a 'troll' post/thread.
If I say: "Hinata solos Sasuke" and back that up with some kind of reasoning... then it's a personal opinion that I've given some kind of due dilligence to communicate. People are free to agree and disagree with that reasoning.
Another person could simply say: "All you haters think Sasuke is so good, but Hinata can solo him." ... Might work as a post... but I've seen some -threads- started in such a manner... and that's generally going to instigate some kind of "you are dumb!" "no, you are dumb!" "Well you're dumb times two!"
Not that the first one is going to go much longer without such a descent into madness... but at least the opening pretext is not just: "hey, reason to argue and insult each other!"
And that's the difference.
Though I wouldn't call the first or second one "fanboyism" One is stating an opinion (which may or may not be "fanboyish"), the other is an attempt to garner a reaction (trawling/trolling).
