Let's at least wait a bit more and see how it goes. I actually understand your position very well. You are afraid that it will basically ruin the forum by dissuading the new comers and repulsing some of the old ones and then we end up with a completely flat earth forum talking to themselves.

Additionally, due to the contentious content, it may cause more flare-ups and posts that require moderation giving you more headaches

If I may, I would like to propose another solution:

-First, it might not be as bad as you are seeing it now and projecting it for the future, they may have had an increased activity due to the balloon thing. Maybe it will calm down a bit later. If it increases to the extent that most of the hot posts end up all FE then you can take drastic action.

-Second, as an unorthodox solution. Whenever a flat earther spams too many posts about it on daily basis and keeps fighting with everyone etc.. You just send them a template copy paste text on how they should minimize their "activism", not because you are censoring or that you think they are pricks and such, but because this would drive away new comers to this forum and they would end without an audience or anyone to preach to. If they continue then maybe they are indeed feds. (Basically, censorship but minimal to keep them in check)

-Third, if you are the only one doing the modding I can imagine how hard it must be doing this since you are not getting paid by the hour. You might want to experiment with adding mods on your side, maybe multiple part time ones.

Let's at least wait a bit more and see how it goes. I actually understand your position very well. You are afraid that it will basically ruin the forum by dissuading the new comers and repulsing some of the old ones and then we end up with a completely flat earth forum talking to themselves.

Additionally, due to the contentious content, it may cause more flare-ups and posts that require moderation giving you more headaches

If I may, I would like to propose another solution:

-First, it might not be as bad as you are seeing it now and projecting it for the future, they may have had an increased activity due to the balloon thing. Maybe it will calm down a bit later. If it increases to the extent that most of the hot posts end up all FE then you can take drastic action.

-Second, as an unorthodox solution. Whenever a flat earther spams too many posts about it on daily basis and keeps fighting with everyone etc.. You just send them a prepared text on how they should minimize their "activism", not because you are censoring or that you think they are pricks and such, but because this would drive away new comers to this forum and they would end without an audience or anyone to preach to. If they continue then maybe they are indeed feds. (Basically, censorship but minimal to keep them in check)

-Third, if you are the only one doing the modding I can imagine how hard it must be doing this since you are not getting paid by the hour. You might want to experiment with adding mods on your side, maybe multiple part time ones.