How can educators enforce etiquette in course forums without stifling debate?

[James.A]

I'm a teaching assistant for a large university course that recently moved its discussion forums online, and I'm dismayed by the decline in civility—students are posting dismissive comments, engaging in heated personal arguments, and rarely acknowledging each other's contributions. I want to establish some basic online etiquette guidelines to improve the quality of discourse. For educators or forum moderators, what are the most effective ways to teach and enforce digital etiquette in an academic setting without stifling genuine debate, and how do you handle repeat offenders?